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Permalink Reply by Margy Meath on October 30, 2014 at 9:23am

I believe that this particular meeting was doomed from the moment that the highest ranking person in the room decided to take a cell phone call while the 2nd highest ranking person was trying to engage the audience. It was as if the person talking on the cell phone did not care anything about the actual meeting! That was a BAD start. It got worse as the highest ranking person decided to make comments to the room without actually turning around to face the audience. When we stated that we could not hear, he simply turned his head toward one part of the room but NEVER engaged the entire room and never actually faced us. I'm not sure why he was there as he wasn't engaged at all and the few things he did say either could not be heard or created even more frustration for community members. I think that this particular dynamic probably had an impact on the other 2 RPD people who were trying to engage and share information. 

In terms of the 911 response times, I would like to have had more time for questions about this as well as a bit more understanding of the process. 

One thing that we heard loud and clear is that there are certain things that we cannot expect in terms of various crimes - so, for example, if someone throws a brick through your front window and the person is GONE, RPD is NOT going to respond! Now, if the brick happens to hit you and you're injured, RPD WILL respond. Not to worry though, if they shoot BULLETS through your window, an officer will be sent (said with sarcasm but that is what we were told).

Priority ONE (something IN PROGRESS) calls get faster response. So, for example, you come home and see that your home was burglarized, call 911 and tell them that your house was burglarized and you think someone might still be in the house - that will make it a a priority 1! if you say it was burglarized but there is nobody there now you will be a priority 2 and will get a response sometime - if it's July 4th it might take 4 or 5 hours as happened to Dan.

Interestingly, last week on Marlborough/Inglewood/Ravenwood we had a HUGE police presence and police response (literally 10 or more cars, K-9 units, undercover cars, etc) respond to an attempted break in. It was more police than I had seen in years and years and years. I'm guessing it must have been a slow day otherwise given how many police were quickly on the scene!

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Permalink Reply by Margy Meath on October 30, 2014 at 12:54pm

A bit more detail about some of the Statistics shared re: 911 response:

For PRIORITY ONE CALLS (something "in progress") - WEST SIDE

AVERAGE Time for an officer to be on scene from the time you call 911:

11 pm - 7 am: 16.5 minutes

7 am - 3 pm: 20.5 minutes

3 - 11 pm: 23 minutes

PRIORITY 2 CALLS - AVERAGE RESPONSE TIME - WEST SIDE

11 pm - 7 am : 32 minutes

7 am - 3 pm: 49 minutes

3 pm - 11 pm: 56 minutes

As I understood it last night, there are 2 "steps" to a 911 call and each step is monitored in terms of how much time it takes.

Step #1 you call, the 911 operator takes information and sends the job to "dispatch". the call waits in a que until a patrol officer is assigned/accepts the 'job'

Step #2 once the officer accepts/is assigned the "job", he/she goes to the scene

The longest wait occurs at Step # 1. We were told that the average response time for step # 2 is between 5-6 minutes. IN other words, once an officer actually KNOWS about your call, he/she will be there in 5-6 minutes but until the call is dispatched you are waiting.

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Permalink Reply by Georgia NeSmith on October 31, 2014 at 8:56pm

It would be helpful to see how SW Rochester compares with other areas in Rochester, particularly the tonier areas such as Browncroft and Cobbs Hill (although those will probably be mixed in with Park/Monroe and other areas of Rochester not quite so tony. 

Whenever I made a call I would see an officer in 3-6 minutes. I was told by several who either knew me or knew about me that certain officers listened specifically for my calls & would respond if they were anywhere nearby. While that made me feel relatively safe, I had to wonder the effect that had on other calls. Everyone should be treated the same whether or not they have the time to work closely with the PD and become known. 

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Permalink Reply by Kendre Lloyd on November 4, 2014 at 3:21pm

I have to honestly say as both a resident of Rochester, in the 19th and as a manager at a business in the NOTA/East Ave area, RPD response seems tepid at best.  Coming from Washington DC this is not surprising to me although I am feeling more and more the need to take my safety into my own hands. 

In the past month on Roxborough Rd, I have been assualted (punched in the face), had groceries taken off my porch, the same strange man ringing my doorbell and asking first for work and then for money and then showing up when I was not there and doing the same to my daughter, ringing the doorbell over and over again and banging on the door and items stolen out of my car.  Assualt?  Transferred to 311 told an officer would come take a report, one never showed.  Thefts?  Sympathetic listener, report taken etc (again transferred to 311) but absolutely no feeling of resolution or hope that anything would change. 

Burgarly at work with security tape, identiy of subject known and verfied; case closed and not pursued. 

I did not know the individual who assualted me (fyi it was not random, there is a backstory let me know if you want those details), it was witnessed by two other people who thought the other was calling 911 but at any rate the person sped off.  I walk my dog daily on my own street, own my house and am fed up with feeling like a sitting duck to what I preceive to be an increasing amount of so called "petty" crime on my own street, at my own house.  This has led me to go back to my old "Washington DC in the crack epidemic 80's"  mentality which is to say I have to rely on myself to protect both my person, my family and my property.  I would like to be able to live without feeling like I will need to defend myself with force at anytime.  It just does not feel like that is going to happen anytime soon in the 19th. 

I will be the first to say a stronger police presence usually does not deter this kind of escalating behavior.  We can argue all day long about the social ills and causes of crime and criminal behavior and never come to an understanding.  Someone mentioned the need to reach out to the kids but I don't see them as the problem so much as their parents at this point.  You cannot re-direct kids to better choices so long as their parents stay in their dysfunctional patterns and fight you every step of the way. 

As for me?  I am ready to pack my bags and blow this berg and move back down south where these battles have already been fought and fixed.  I don't know if I have the stamina or the interest anymore to engage in fixing these issues and community building.  I feel burnt out and hopeless at this point.   I get torn between knowing the issue, understanding the cyclic nature of this thing (Revitalizing in one area squeezes the problem into another area much like how a stress ball works), sticking it out and being part of the solution;  OR packing my bags and blowing this berg. 

I can't take another 3 crimes against my person and property in one month without either re-upping my NRA membership or re-doubling my mentoring commitments. 

Today I can honestly say I am not sure which approach would be most effective and THAT is a pretty sad realization for me.

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Permalink Reply by Margy Meath on November 6, 2014 at 12:20pm

the reality of bad things happening in our neighborhood is disturbing although I continually remind myself that there is FAR MORE GOOD here than bad. BUT, it's difficult to keep that in mind if you (or someone you know) has been recently victimized. It's even more difficult when the victim receives a less that prompt, thorough or supportive response from the police.

I was with Sheri shortly after she was attacked. I was with her when she tried to get the police to take a report. I was with her as she tried to advocate that what happened to her was a SERIOUS crime. I was also with her when she tried (after the fact) to raise the concern in a Police/citizen meeting and the conversation was quickly "shut down". IF Sheri had not advocated for herself, the incident in question would never have made the "list" of crimes committed in the neighborhood.

We need a better mechanism to raise concerns about the RPD and specifically about RPD's response to 911 calls, taking reports, etc. We DO have good service from the Crime Prevention Officers and Lt. Hill but they are NOT the officers who are (generally) responding to our 911 calls. 

The Mayor's proposal for more "community policing" seems to be an effort to get PATROL officers more invested in specific neighborhoods - that is a GOOD thing but it's a "work in progress". In the meantime, the necessary "good will" between police and citizens becomes further eroded when the scenarios described above occur.

In terms of the meeting above (beginning of this thread), I shared my concerns with Councilman McFadden. At the end of the meeting, the group agreed that a letter would be drafted/sent to express concerns. I'm not sure if that has happened yet.

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Permalink Reply by Kendre Lloyd on November 8, 2014 at 11:32am

My last sentence has now prompted several people to come up with a defense of teenagers... because that's how things are around here. 

This is exactly what is frustrating to me and unacceptable.  I also cannot deny there is usually a class or race component to this argument.  I am a Black male.  I am clear my largest threat comes form another Black male.  It really is that simple.  I am disgusted with the justifing of violent and criminal behavior as a response to societal ills.  I have borne the brunt of those societal ills we all talk about but I do not and would not use it as justfication to enact violence or retribution against anyone else, ESPECIALLY not my own kind. 

I do not know what the answers are.  I continue my mentoring relationship and to re-enforce the message of self-reliance, accountabiity, self-control and dignity.  For whatever reason here I am and stay for now.  My commitment to non-violent response to violent attacks has been rescinded however.  I will defend myself and anyone else I see attacked.  That is clear and plain and simple. 

I do not say injustice and abuse does not exist from the authorities or those in power.  It does.  Poverty exist, substandard education exists.  But I do  not agree that should give anyone license to prey on others.  Intolerable and I will not stand for it.  What happens when those social arguments become a response to situations like this is the wolves hide among the lambs.  But trust me, I know a wolf from a lamb. 

My experince in Rochester has been disappointing to say the least.  But  it continues to grow on me despite everyone in my family and friends wanting me to come  back home. 

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Permalink Reply by Gail Mott on November 7, 2014 at 5:48am

The Coalition for Police Reform meets at noon today (Friday, Nov. 7) at the Downtown Presbyterian Church, 121 N. Fitzhugh St. Could someone come to represent the 19th Ward? We are looking for more partners. Our Mission is to end discriminatory and unjust policing in the Rochester Metro area by building and mobilizing a powerful, visible, and lasting movement that promotes public safety and policing practices based on community safety, accountability, and respect. The Coalition is led by the Rev. Lewis Stewart, head of United Christian Leadership Ministry, and KaeLyn Rich, Director of the GVC/NYCLU. Member organizations include Teen Empowerment, Greater Rochester Community of Churches, Rochester ACTS, Take Back the Land, the Presbytery of Genesee Valley, and others. Gail Mott 464-0878

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Permalink Reply by Margy Meath on November 7, 2014 at 11:31am

If you want someone to represent the 19th Ward, you probably should contact LaShay Harris or John Borek in their "official" capacity from the 19th Ward Community Association and the Public Safety Committee.

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