City of Rochester
News Release
(Friday, July 12, 2019) – Mayor Lovely A. Warren, City Council Vice President Willie J. Lightfoot and Police Chief La’Ron Singletary today joined members of the local clergy and representatives of the ROC Against Gun Violence Coalition to call on the community to take an active role to end violence in Rochester.
“Our streets are getting safer. Crime is down, but every homicide, every shooting, every act of violence is one too many,” said Mayor Warren. “The ripple effects of these actions spread across our community and create untold amounts of pain and suffering. It has to end, and we need the community to be part of the effort.”
While crime trends remain consistent with previous years, the Rochester Police Department (RPD) is working to end a series of ongoing disputes that are leading to targeted shootings and homicides.
The RPD is using overtime funded by the N.Y. Department of Criminal Justice Service’s Gun Involved Violence Elimination (GIVE) grant to increase patrols in areas where police believe the disputes are most likely to lead to shootings. Also, the RPD launched a combined operation with the Monroe County Sheriff’s Office, New York State Police, the Monroe County Office of Probation and the N.Y. State Parole Division to increase patrols and arrest known violent offenders.
But law enforcement alone will not reduce the violence. The leaders implored the community to help end the violence. Anyone with information about an open homicide is asked to call 911 and ask to speak to an investigator. And those with information about ongoing dispute that might lead to a shooting are encouraged to contact an intervention specialists to interrupt the cycle of violence.
Citizens are asked to call Pathways to Peace at 428-6339 or call the ROC Against Violence Coalition at 428- 6554. Citizens can also contact a member of the local clergy or reach out to one of the many member organizations of the RAGV Coalition, which can be found at
www.cityofrochester.gov/thinkaboutit.
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News Media: For more information, contact Press Officer Jessica Alaimo at 428-7135.