Crime Reduction Through Community Engagement

Almost every category of Part 1 Crime declined in the first six months of 2013. Mayor Thomas S. Richards and Police Chief James M. Sheppard are committed to further crime reduction through community engagement.

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 Dear Community Partner,

Mayor Richards portraitThe first obligation of the City government is to protect the public, and we are doing that. Crime in Rochester is steadily decreasing. Yet, regardless of the statistics, our streets are much too violent.

Rochester must not only be safer - it must feel safer. Our residents and visitors must be able to live in their homes and move about the city without fear of violence or undue concern for their property. The key to achieving this goal lies in community collaboration.

As you will read, we are committed to engaging the community and building relationships to help make Rochester safer by focusing on three objectives as outlined in my State of the City Address: Engaging Neighbors; Engaging Young People and Targeting Gangs.

Working together, the men and women of the Rochester Police Department and the community can bring peace to the streets of Rochester.

Thomas S. Richards
Mayor

Sheppard-James ChiefThe crime data for the first six months of 2013 are encouraging. Part 1 crime decreased 8.7 percent, and violent crime fell 2.4 percent. Our success has been dependent on proactive policing strategies, cooperation and coordination with law enforcement partners, as well as the vigilance and participation of our citizens.

However, we are far from ready to declare victory. Most troubling, the data indicate that the use of illegal guns on our streets continues to rise and we must do everything in our power to stop this.

The key to reducing our crime rate and saving lives in Rochester lies in community engagement and enhanced citizen involvement. This is why I have embraced a philosophy I call “Policing in the Spirit of Service,” which requires every employee of the RPD to strive for excellence, while demonstrating courtesy, professionalism and ethics. We must earn your trust so you will want to be our partner.

James M. Sheppard
Chief

 
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