City of Rochester
News Release
Notable
News:
-Local
NYS Legislature Delegation is Asked to Introduce Legislation That Would Allow
the City Local Law to Create the Requirement
-Having
Officers Live in the City Will Benefit Neighborhoods & Make Our Community
Safer say Warren & Scott
(Monday,
August 31, 2020) – Mayor Lovely A. Warren and City Council President Loretta C. Scott today
announced their support for a residency requirement for all newly hired
Rochester Police Department Officers. To achieve this goal, Mayor Warren and
President Scott are calling upon Rochester’s New York State Legislature
delegation to introduce and support legislation to allow the City to adopt a
local law creating the requirement. The Mayor and Council President have sent a
joint letter to the entire delegation asking them to take action.
“Having
our police officers live in the community they protect and serve will build
relationships and strengthen our neighborhoods,” said Mayor Warren.
“Ultimately, both officers and their neighbors will benefit and, I’m confident,
our city will be safer because of connections made. Also, we will keep vital
dollars and resources in Rochester rather than see them leave our community.”
“The
City of Rochester has a residency requirement for many of its employees,
because we know that when you live in the City you serve, you have more at
stake. This is not a radical change in philosophy for us, it is a continuation
of a policy that we believe in,” said Rochester City Council President Loretta
C. Scott, “I want to encourage our partners in Albany to take up this request,
and provide us the tools we need to create positive change in our community.”
Mayor
Warren and President Scott plan on meeting with members of the local N.Y. State
Legislature delegation to solicit their support and will advocate to the
leadership of the State Senate and Assembly as well. They hope the Legislature
will act when it returns to session. Upon passage of the enabling State
Legislation, Mayor Warren would immediately submit a local law to City Council
for its consideration to put the residency requirement into effect. The
requirement would apply to newly hired Rochester Police Department officers, not
existing officers or current officers who receive promotions.
“Rochester
has been at the forefront of implementing police reforms to improve the safety
of our community and residents’ confidence in law enforcement,” stated Mayor
Warren. “From body-worn cameras to adopting all of National Organization of
Black Law Enforcement and President Obama’s 21st Century policing
recommendations to our Police Accountability Board, President Scott and I have
led the way to ensure that our City’s police truly protect and serve. A
residency requirement for RPD officers is the next important step and I hope
our State Delegation acts immediately to join us in this effort.”
“As
cities across the country continue to reimagine policing, our neighbors in
Buffalo and Syracuse are asking for the same opportunity to implement residency
requirements for their police forces,” said Vice President Willie J. Lightfoot,
“This policy change has the potential to make a significant impact our
community by enhancing our opportunity to recruit a diverse police force,
creating positive economic impacts by keeping money in the City, and making our
neighborhoods safer.”
Read the letter sent to all members of the local delegation. ###
News Media: For more information, contact 311 (outside City limits 585-428-5990).