Police and Jails

The Rochester Coalition for Police reform convened a press conference on Tuesday June 16 at 10:30am on the steps of City Hall.  The purpose was to 1. Proclaim a victory with $2 million alotted to Body Worn Cameras that was passed in the city's budget and 2. To indicate that the coalition wants a role in the shaping of the policies which will be approved by City Council at  a later date. You can read CPR's body worn camera policy recommendations here. Also CPR has put out a guide to help people with the city's survey regarding body cameras. That guide can be found here.

CPR also renewed the call for the Community Safety Agenda which includes an independent and viable Civilian Review Board process with subpoena power and independent investigative authority; a curtailment of Sop and Frisk (racial profiling), improving community understanding of individual rights to consent to be searched, and anti-racism professional development training for police officers.

"10 Vow to Fight Advisory Board," has no author. The article was published in the Democrat & Chronicle on September 17, 1965. Ten candidates for City Council, Conservative and Republican parties, made it clear that they would fight to abolish the Police Advisory Board. Citizens for Abolition of the Police Advisory Board mailed their political statements to some "500 city policemen." The clipping can be found at the Local History Department of the Monroe County Library Downtown Branch.

"'People Should Vote On Advisory Board'," is a letter to the editor written by Russell C. Sciolino of the city. It was published in the Democrat & Chronicle on April 22, 1965. Russell is proud "of our boys" but the Police Advisory Board ties the hands of the officers behind their backs. He wants a referendum on whether to keep the board or not. He reminds us that "Their lives are always in danger trying to protect everybody." The clipping can be found at the Local History Department of the Monroe County Library Downtown Branch.

Below is a scanned image of an editorial from the Times-Union. The editorial, "Strong New View on Police Board," begins by referencing Bishop James E. Kearney's remarks against the Police Advisory Board. He is quoted as saying, "...its continuation hurts the morale of the department and is a reflection on the integrity of our men in uniform." The editorial continues by claiming the board has not promoted "good relations between the Negro community and the police" nor has it solved police brutality.

The year 1965 had by far the most column space with regards to the Police Advisory Board in both the Democrat & Chronicle and the Times-Union newspapers. For 1965, articles critical of the PAB from the Times-Union have been combined into single Rochester Indymedia articles divided by month. This is July 1965. The clippings can be found at the Local History Department of the Monroe County Library Downtown Branch.

The year 1965 had by far the most column space with regards to the Police Advisory Board in both the Democrat & Chronicle and the Times-Union newspapers. For 1965, articles critical of the PAB from the Times-Union have been combined into single Rochester Indymedia articles divided by month. This is June 1965. The clippings can be found at the Local History Department of the Monroe County Library Downtown Branch.

Below is a scanned image of a letter to the editor from the Times-Union. The letter, "Lauds Police Board Criticism," written by Barbara Prattis from the city, talked about how "delighted" she was that the Police Advisory Board "came under fire" by the FBI. She wrote that the board serves no other purpose than to "create difficulty for police and promulgate ill will toward them." The clipping can be found at the Local History Department of the Monroe County Library Downtown Branch. "Lauds Police Board Criticism," a letter to the editor, was written by Barbara Prattis from the city.

Below is a scanned image of a newspaper clipping referencing a New York City councilman who cited a representative of the National Association of Colored People Philadelphia branch and a Rochester "policewoman" in their contempt of the Police Advisory Board and boards like them around the country. Alternatives to the boards (the chief of police, the FBI, and the federal court system) were raised as proof that no boards were needed. The clipping can be found at the Local History Department of the Monroe County Library Downtown Branch. "Police Board Opposed," was written by Cliff Smith.

Below is a scanned image of a letter to the editor from the Times-Union. The letter, "Would Abandon Police Board" written by Margaret B. Hoesli from Pittsford, talks about how great the editorials for newspaper are--"so unbiased and to the point"! She hopes the Times-Union will use all it's power to help in abolishing the Police Advisory Board. She also expresses an uncritical love of police. The clipping can be found at the Local History Department of the Monroe County Library Downtown Branch.

Graphs depicting data on police demographic information from August 2013. Two questions were asked of the data 1) What is the racial composition of the Rochester Police Department?, 2) What is the gender composition of the Rochester Police Department?, and 3) How much of the police force works in the communities that it lives? Data was given to Rochester Indymedia after a Freedom of Information Act request was filed with the City of Rochester. The number before the percent represents that number of officers on the force for that category.