SPD: Reckoning & Reform
A City Divided
Episode 3 | 26m 46sVideo has Closed Captions
Rifts between Syracuse Police and the communities they serve hit a boiling point.
In an era where misconduct can now be captured with the press of a button, rifts between police and communities across the country have become increasingly prevalent. These rifts came to a boiling point at a community forum on Syracuse's Westside. As tensions rise, new strategies are set in place in hopes to mend fractured relationships and repair policies of the past.
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SPD: Reckoning & Reform is a local public television program presented by WCNY
SPD: Reckoning & Reform
A City Divided
Episode 3 | 26m 46sVideo has Closed Captions
In an era where misconduct can now be captured with the press of a button, rifts between police and communities across the country have become increasingly prevalent. These rifts came to a boiling point at a community forum on Syracuse's Westside. As tensions rise, new strategies are set in place in hopes to mend fractured relationships and repair policies of the past.
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HE GOT NOTHING ON HIM.
>> WHY YOU DOING ALL THAT.
WHY HE DOING ALL THAT.
>> WHY HE DOING ALL THAT?
HE NOT RESISTING OR NOTHING.
WHY HE DOING ALL THAT?
Y YO', WHY ARE YOU PUNCHIN MY MAN.
YEP, I AIN'T [bleep].
>> AFTER THE INCIDENT THAT HAPPENED ON GRAY STREET WE FELT THE NEED TO HAVE THE POLICE DEPARTMENT AND THE MAYOR'S OFFICE RESPOND TO US AND QUITE A FEW WAYS.
ONE OF THE FIRST THINGS WAS WE ASKED THEM TO ADDRESS THE USE OF FORCE POLICY.
>> POLICE CHIEF BUCKNER AND MAYOR WALSH WILL HOLD FOUR NEIGHBORHOOD MEETINGS TALKING ABOUT POLICE TRAINING, COMMUNITY POLICING, INTERNAL AFFAIRS.
THESE MEETINGS ALL AWM COME AFTER THE POLICE DEPARTMENT RELEASED ITS NEW USE OF FORCE POLICY.
>> WE ARE GOING TO GET STARTED HERE.
IF EVERYONE GO LET SETTLED.
AND WE ARE HERE TONIGHT HAVE A DIFFICULT CONVERSATION.
THE ISSUE OF COMMUNITY POLICE RELATIONS IS ONE THAT IS NOT ONLY FOR THE CITY OF SYRACUSE BUT ACROSS THE COUNTRY.
THE FIRST THING I WANT TO DO IS TO OFFER A SINCERE APOLOGY FOR BOTH THE PAST, THE PRESENT AND FUTURE OF THE EXCUSE PLARM POLICE DEPARTMENT AND I TAKE OWNERSHIP OF THAT.
WE WILL TAKE QUESTIONS AFTER WE DO OUR PRESENTATION.
YES MA'AM.
LET ME DO THE PRESENTATION.
COMING ALL THIS WAY, THREW HIM TO THE GROUND...
I WANT TO KNOW WHY DO OFFICERS FEEL (INAUDIBLE) [ APPLAUSE ] FOR REMOVING...
SO WHY ARE THE POLICE OFFICERS... >> NUMBER 2 (INAUDIBLE).
>> YOU DON'T DESERVE TO BE HERE.
>> POLICE REFORM IS NOT A MOMENT IN TIME.
>> PREFERABLY FOR JUSTICE.
>> ON OUR WORST DAY, THIS IS A NOBLE PROFESSION.
>> ONE HOMICIDE IS TOO MANY IN THIS CITY.
PEOPLE ARE RUNNING AS SOON AS THEY HEAR GUNSHOTS.
>> THERE IS A NEW DAY COMING IN THE CITY OF SYRACUSE.
>> DEPUTY MAYOR SHARON OWENS AND CITY OFFICIALS ARE TURNING TO NEIGHBORHOOD STAKEHOLDERS FROM AROUND THE CITY.
>> WE ARE LOOKING FOR THE COMMUNITY TO GIVE US SOME INSIGHT IN WHAT THEY SEE AS THE CRITERIA WE SHOULD BE IDENTIFYING AS WE MOVE CLOSER TO ACTUALLY SEARCHING FOR THE POLICE CHIEF.
>> I THINK THE PRIMARY THING THAT THE DEPUTY MAYOR SPOKE ABOUT WAS IS THAT LACK OF CONNECTION BETWEEN POLICE AND THE COMMUNITY, FOR SOMEONE TO COME IN AND MAKE THAT CONNECTION THROUGH INTENTIONAL BEHAVIOR, TO ADDRESS SOME OF THE HISTORICAL ISSUES, CONCERNS THAT HAVE BEEN RAISED BY MANY PEOPLE IN OUR COMMUNITY AND TO MOVE THE POLICE DEPARTMENT FORWARD IN A VERY PROGRESSIVE WAY IS >> I WAS DRYING-- I WAS DRIVING.
I PEEP YOU HAVE AN OPEN ALCOHOL CONTAINER IN THE BACK.
>> THERE'S WEED.
>> I JUST WANT TO...
ESSENTIAL WILL I WHAT THEY'RE SAYING IS SOMEBODY GOT JUMPED.
THEY WENT THERE TO-- THEY KNOW.
THEY'RE FAMILY MEMBERS.
THEY RESOLVED THE ISSUE APPARENTLY AND THEN THEY STARTED SHOOTING.
>> THREE OR FOUR SHOTS.
>> YOU GUYS HAVE ME IN HERE FOR WHAT?
I'VE EXPLAINED IT TO YOU I'M CONFUSED.
>> YOU ARE DETAINED AS PART OF A LAWFUL INVESTIGATION AND POSSIBLE SHOTS FIRED INCIDENT.
I DON'T KNOW HOW MUCH MORE PLAIN I CAN GET AND I'M SURE MY SERGEANT TOLD YOU THE EXACT SAME THING, OKAY?
I GET SHOT OUT AND I GET HANDCUFFED.
>> IF YOU GREW UP WITH THE BLACK EXPERIENCE AND THESE ISSUES HAVE ALWAYS BEEN PREVALENT.
WE'VE ALWAYS HEARD KITCHEN TABLE TALK AROUND THE TABLE WHO FELT THEIR FELT THEIR RIGHTS WERE VIOLATED BY A POLICE OFFICER BUT NOW WITH HAND HELD TELEPHONES AND HAND HELD RECORDERS RNLTS IT'S OPEN FOR THE PUBLIC TO SEE.
>> SHOT AT...
I WANT TO GO LIVE WITH THIS SO I THINK WHAT HAS CHANGED BETWEEN 20 YEARS AGO AND NOW ISN'T THE BEHAVIOR.
WHAT HAS CHANGED IS THAT PEOPLE ARE RECORDING IT AT A RATE IN WHICH PEOPLE ARE SAYING WELL MAYBE WE CAN'T DENY IT IF SO MANY DIFFERENT CITIES AND SO MANY PARTS OF OUR NATION RECORDING WITH POLICE THAT MAY BE TROUBLESOME.
IT'S REALLY JUST THE CREATION OF THE HAND HELD DEVICE THAT CAN RECORD PEOPLE'S BEHAVIOR THAT IS SHINING A LIGHT ON THE NATIONAL ISSUE.
BUT AS A PERSON OF COLOR LIVING IN THE COMMUNITY, THAT'S NOT SOMETHING THAT'S NEW.
IT'S SOMETHING THAT HAS ALWAYS BEEN PART OF THEIR LIVED EXPERIENCE IN THE USE OF FORCE POLICY, WE ASKED THEM TO FURTHER EXPLAIN TO US WHAT THE LANGUAGE INSIDE OF THE USE OF FORCE POLICY MEANT WHAT IT MEANS THAT AN OFFICER COULD ARREST AN INDIVIDUAL AND HIT THEM WITH A CLOSED FIST.
WE ALSO ADD THEM TO TALK ABOUT THE CUSTOMER SERVICE ONE HAS WHEN THEY'RE PULLED OVER.
HOW IS IT AN OFFICER CAN SPEAK TO YOU, WHAT CAN AN OFFICER SAY OR DO.
DO I HAVE THE RIGHT TO STAY IN MY CAR?
DO I HAVE THE RIGHT TO REFUSE TO LISTEN TO THE OFFICERS.
WE ALSO ASKED FOR THE RIGHT TO KNOW, TO BE INSTITUTED IN THE CITY OF SYRACUSE FOR THEM TO RUN BACK, THIS IS THE FOOTAGE OF THE GRACE STREET INCIDENT AND FOR US TO FURTHER BE EXPLAINED PIECE BY PIECE, WHAT HAPPENED, HOW IT HAPPENED AND WHY IT IS THAT IT IS BEING JUSTIFIED AS BEING CORRECT.
>> WE WERE FIRST ALERTED ABOUT THE GRACE STREET STOP THROUGH SOCIAL MEDIA.
SO PART OF MY JOB IS TO MANAGE THE SOCIAL MEDIA PAGES, TO KEEP AN EYE ON THOSE.
AND WE STARTED TO SEE PEOPLE TAGGING US IN THIS VIDEO AND FIRST WATCHING THE VIDEO, SEEN A LOT OF USE OF FORCE VIDEOS, SOMETIMES THEY DON'T GO ANYWHERE SO WE START IS TOED WATCH THIS BUT THIS STARTED TO GROW LIKE WILDFIRE MAINLY PUSHED BY NITCH JONES DOING MY JOB OF PUBLIC INFORMATION FOR THE COMMUNITY AND HE WAS ON THE SIDE OF SHAOLIN MOORE, AND TAGGING PEOPLE AND TRYING TO PUSH IT.
IT WAS AN INTERESTING DYNAMIC THAT HE BECAME MY COUNTERPART AND NOW IT WAS A BATTLE BETWEEN THE INFORMATION I HAVE TO PROVIDE, YOU KNOW, TO THE COMMUNITY AND THEN HIS SIDE OF THINGS BUT THAT'S HOW WE FIRST HAD THE INTERACTION AND WE NEVER MET THROUGH THAT WHOLE INCIDENT UNTIL AFTER.
BUT WE WERE KIND OF ARCH NEMESIS AT THE TIME.
>> TWO SYRACUSE POLICE OFFICERS HAVE BEEN DISCIPLINED FOR THEIR DEMEANOR AND LANGUAGE DURING A MAY 31 ARREST.
USE OF FORCE IN THE ARREST WAS DEEMED APPROPRIATE.
>> MY RESPONSE AND WOULD I SAY THE COMMUNITY'S RESPONSE TO THE JUSTIFICATION OF THE OFFICERS INVOLVED FOR THEM BEING PRETTY MUCH LAPPED ON THE WRIST, BEING TOLD YOU KNOW, YOU CAN PULL THEM OUT OF THE CAR CARLOTTA GAMBATO, YOU CAN BEAT THEM UP BUT HAVE YOU TO SAY PLEASE AND THANK YOU FIRST AND THAT'S WHAT WE HEARD.
WE HEARD JUSTIFICATION THAT IT'S OKAY FOR THEM TO DO THEIR JOB AS LONG AS THEY'RE PLIGHT IN DOING SO.
WE FELT THAT THE MATTER WHICH WHICH WE APPROACH THESE INDIVIDUALS, THERE WAS PROBABLY TIME TO USE A MORE CONSTRUCTIVE CONTACT WITH THE INDIVIDUAL, DESPITE HIS PASSIVE RESISTANCE AND WE FELT THE OFFICERS HAD OPPORTUNITY TO IMPROVE IN THAT AREA THE OFFICER DEFENSE THE FORCE SAYING MOORE REAFUSED TO GET OUT OF THE SUV AFTER BEING ORDERED.
THE OFFICER SAID HE HAD COME FROM A DETAIL AT A PARK WHERE GUNS AND ILLEGAL GUN WERE CONFISCATED.
THE OFFICER WRITES QUOTE" WHEN SUBJECTS REFUSE TO STEP OUT OF VEHICLES THEY'RE TRYING TO HIDE CONTRABAND.
DUE TO SEE THIS VEHICLE IN AN AREA WHERE LOADED FIREARM WAS FOUND EARLIER, I BECAME FEARFUL MOORE COULD BE CONCEALING A WEAPON.
>> WE FELT THE FORCE WAS ROPT AND WITHIN OUR POLICY AND TRAINING THAT WE FELT THAT BEE HAD OPPORTUNITY FOR IMPROVEMENT WITH THE DEMEANOR.
THAT NIGHT WHEN I ARRIVED AT ST. LUCIE'S MY MIND WAS TO SURVEY THE AREA.
I'M GOING TO BE HONEST.
I DID NOT FEEL SAFE BECAUSE I DIDN'T KNOW WHAT WAS GOING TO HAPPEN.
I DID NOT KNOW HOW ANGRY THE OFFICERS WERE THAT WE WERE TRIGGERING.
THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN MYSELF AND THE SYRACUSE POLICE DEPARTMENT EVOLVED, IT WAS NOT A GOOD EVOLUTION THERE WAS NOTHING GOOD ABOUT THAT FOR DWIGHT SOMETIME.
WE DIDN'T REALLY TALK DURING THE EVENT AT ALL.
IT WAS JUST ME TRYING TO COUNTER ANY POINTS HE WOULD POINT OUT AND WOULD I WORK WITH MY TEAM AND TRY TO, YOU KNOW, PROVIDE WHAT WE FELT HOW THE INCIDENT WAS PORTRAYED WITH THE VIDEO.
>> YOU WANT TO STEP ON OUT.
YOU CAN STEP ON OUT FOR ME, OKAY.
I THOUGHT TO MYSELF, HOW IS IT POSSIBLE THAT I CAN SIT A VIEW A VIDEO FROM MY EXPERIENCE AND SEE SOMETHING COMPLETELY DIFFERENT.
A TOTALLY JUSTIFIED USE OF FORCE.
SOMEONE WHO WAS BREAKING THE LAW AND UNDERSTANDING THAT THAT IS JUST PART OF OUR JOB.
WE DEAL WITH SOME BAD PEOPLE IN THE COMMUNITY AND I THOUGHT HOW IS IT THAT HE CAN'T SEE THIS AND I WAS KIND OF IGNORANT TO IT BECAUSE I GREW UP OUT IN THE COUNTY, I DIDN'T DEAL WITH SHOOTING AND VIOLENCE IN THE COMMUNITY.
I DIDN'T UNDERSTAND THE MISTRUST OF POLICE.
I REMEMBER WE WERE OUT AT ANOTHER COMMUNITY EVENT.
A BACKPACK GIVEAWAY AND I SAID THAT'S NITCH JONES.
I NEVER SAW HIM.
HE IS FAMOUS TO ME BECAUSE I WAS LIKE, I HATE THAT GUY AND I WENT UP AND SHOOK, EXTENDED MY HAND OUT AND SAID HEY, I WANT TO INTRODUCE MYSELF TO YOU.
HE SAID I KNOW WHO YOU ARE.
>> UNIT 20 TO SERGEANT BLAKE.
HELPING OUT.
>> HE GAVE ME HIS CARD AND SAID THIS IS MY PHONE NUMBER.
WHEN YOU ARE READY TO TALK, I'M READY TO TALK TO YOU.
I'M READY TO HEAR YOU AND I THINK YOU SHOULD HEAR ME.
I DECIDED THAT WEEK OF THE BACKPACK GIVEAWAY TO PICK UP THE PHONE AND CALL SERGEANT MALINOWSKI AND I SAID IT WAS TIME TO CREATE A DYNAMIC THAT IT IS SEEN WITH THE POLICE WALK AGO MUNGS OUR COMMUNITY.
WALKING AMONGST OUR COMMUNITY.
PEOPLE CALL THE POLICE WHEN THEY'RE AT THEIR WORSE.
THEY KNOW IF THEY CALL 911, THE POLICE WILL SHOW UP BUT BUILDING THAT RELATIONSHIP IS WHAT IS IMPORTANT AND PEOPLE WANT TO GET TO KNOW THE OFFICERS AND THAT'S ONE OF THE MOST THINGS I REALIZE THAT PEOPLE BEG FOR.
PEOPLE JUST WANT TO BE HEARD.
>> MANY OF THE CHALLENGES THAT WE HAVE CAN BE TRACED BACK TO SPECIFIC POLICIES.
THESE THINGS DIDN'T HAPPEN BY ACCIDENT.
WHEN YOU LOOK AT THE CONDITION OF MANY OF OUR NEIGHBORHOODS TODAY, AND YOU OVERLAY THAT WITH A MAP OF WHAT HAPPENED DURING RED LINING, YOU WILL SEE AN OUTCOME THAT WAS VERY MUCH INTENDED THROUGH THAT PROCESS.
YOU CAN SEE THE IMPACT TODAY AND THEY'RE NOT SEEN AS DESIRABLE EVEN TODAY.
AND SO WHETHER YOU ARE LOOKING AT RED LINING WHETHER YOU ARE LOOKING AT EXCLUSIONARY ZONING POLICIES.
WHETHER YOU ARE LOOKING AT POLICIES IN PLACE TO MARGINALIZE CERTAIN COMMUNITIES WHETHER THEY BE COMMUNITIES OF COLOR OR POORER COMMUNITIES, THOSE WERE INTENTIONAL AND SO WE NEED TO BE JUST AS INTENTIONAL IN HOW WE UNDO THOSE POLICIES AND UNDUE THE IMPACT OF THOSE POLICIES.
WE WANT TO GROW IN AN INTENTIONAL AND INCLUSIVE WAY THAT ENSURES OPPORTUNITY FOR ALL.
>> I THINK IF YOU ASK THE POLICE, WE WOULD SAY THAT GENERALLY SPEAKING, WE POLICE OUR COMMUNITY THE SAME DEPENDING UPON CIRCUMSTANCES OF WHICH THE DINS EPT, WHAT IT INVOLVED WHAT THE INDIVIDUALS ARE DOING AT THE TIME OF OUR ENCOUNTER.
I THINK IF YOU ASK CITIZENS, SOME WILL ARGUE THAT THE WAS I WE RESPOND TO ONE COMMUNITY IS DIFFERENT THAN THE WAY WE RESPOND TO ANOTHER.
THE NEEDS OF THE NORTH SIDE OF OUR CITY ARE DIFFERENT FROM THE EAST SIDE BUT BOTH SHOULD BE SEEN AS VALUABLE AND IMPORTANT REGARDLESS WHAT THE ISSUE IS SO FARCE IMPROVEMENT IS CONCERNED WE HAVE TO DEFINE WHAT SUCCESS LOOKS LIKE THROUGH THROUGHOUT OUR CITY BECAUSE FOR ONE COMMUNITY THAT MAY MEAN ADDRESSING TRAFFIC ISSUES.
FOR ANOTHER COMMUNITY IT MAY MEAN ADDRESSING THE CORNER STORE, WHETHER INDIVIDUALS WHO ARE HANGING OUT SELLING DRUGS.
ONCE YOU DEFINE WHAT SUCCESS LOOKS LIKE FOR YOUR CITY, I THINK THAT YOU CAN CONTINUE TO INCREMENTALLY HEAD IN THE DIRECTION OF DOING THAT, MAKING SURE THAT OUR PEOPLE ARE ADEQUATELY TRAINED.
THAT THEY HAVE THE RESOURCES TO DO THE JOB AND MAKE SURE WE ARE CONNECTED WITH THE COMMUNITY WE ARE SERVING.
>> WHAT'S WRONG WITH THAT PICTURE.
>> IN THE WIRE, MY FAVORITE SHOW OF ALL TIME.
A GREAT SCENE WHERE CARVER IS CHASING KIDS WHO STOLE THE CAR.
HE THROWS THE LIGHT ON AND HE GOES LET'S GO GET 'EM AND THEY START DRIVING TO CATCH THE KIDS AND HE GOES WAIT, I KNOW ALL OF THEM.
THAT'S MICHAEL, THAT'S, YOU KNOW, IT BECOMES A THING WHERE HE KNOWS HIS NEIGHBORHOOD SO WELL THAT AS CRIME IS HAPPENING, HE IS AWARE BECAUSE HE HAS CONNECTIONS AND ROOTS IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD.
HE HAS FRIENDSHIPS WITH DIFFERENT PEOPLE.
HE GETS TO KNOW THE CHARACTERS.
HE GETS TO KNOW WHO IS MAKING TROUBLE.
WHO THE USUAL SUSPECTS ARE.
ALL THOSE KINDS OF THINGS.
IN AN IDEAL WORLD, WHEN YOU HEAR PEOPLE, OLDER FOLKS IN SYRACUSE WHO COME TO THE NEIGHBORHOOD WATCH MEETINGS THAT I GO TO MANY NIGHTS A WEEK.
THEY TALK ABOUT A GONE ERA WHERE THEY KNEW THE COP, THEY KNEW THE COP WHO WAS REPRESENTING EASTWOOD.
THEY KNEW HIS NAME.
HE KNEW THEM.
HE KNEW WHICH SHOPS.
THEY HAD A THING.
ALL I CAN SAY IS THE POLICE REFORM THAT SYRACUSE HAS BEEN TORQUING ON BREAKING THE CITY UP INTO SMALLER BITE SIZED CHUNKS THAT COPS WOULD BE RESPONSIBLE FOR A CERTAIN BITE SIZED CHUNK, TO ME THAT SOUNDS BRILLIANT.
IT WORKS REALLY WELL ON PAPER.
>> THE THOUGHT WAS THAT UNDER THE PAST STRUCTURE, CAPTAINS, WHO I DEFINE AS THE FIRST LEVEL OF EXECUTIVE LEADERSHIP IN A PARA MILITARY ORGANIZATION, WERE PRETTY MUCH WORKING FUNCTIONALLIZED AS A SUPERVISOR BECAUSE THEY WERE ON THE SHIFTS.
I DIVIDED THE CITY INTO THREE DIVISIONS, THE NORTH, SOUTHWEST AND SOUTHEAST AND THEN GAVE THEM A GEOGRAPHICAL RESPONSIBILITY 24 HOURS A DAY.
PURPOSE OF THAT IS FOR BOTH COMMUNITY AND EXECUTIVE LEADERSHIP TO KNOW EACH OTHER INTIMATELY.
SO THAT WHEN YOU HAVE A PROBLEM IN THE STRATHMORE NEIGHBORHOOD, YOU KNOW EXACTLY WHO YOUR CAPTAIN, WHO IS RESPONSIBLE FOR YOUR AREA: YOU KNOW THE OFFICERS THAT ARE THERE DURING THE DAY, THE OFFICERS THAT RIDE THE OTHER TWO SHIFTS AND THAT KEEPS YOU AT A LEVEL TO WHERE MOST OF THE PROBLEMS SHOULD BE DECENTRALIZED AND DEALT WITH AT MUCH LOWER LEVELS BEFORE THEY MAKE IT TO WHERE IT'S A SERIOUS ISSUE BECAUSE YOU HAVE THAT RELATIONSHIP WITH SOMEONE THAT YOU CAN CALL ON THE EXECUTIVE TEAM DAY TO DAY.
>> WHAT BROUGHT YOU HERE.
>> THE HOUSES, THE HISTORY, JUST A WONDERFUL NEIGHBORHOOD AND WE ARE FORTUNATE TO BE HERE.
I THINK CHIEF BUCKNER IS EARNING HIS STRIPES.
WHEN HE ORIGINALLY THREW THE IDEA OUT WE WERE LOOPED INTO AND AREA OF THE CITY THAT IS INHERENTLY DANGEROUS AND CRIMINALLY ACTIVE AND IT'S PART OF THE WHOLE SOUTHWEST QUADRANT WHICH WE HAVE BEEN SOMEWHAT PROTECTED FROM IN THIS NEIGHBORHOOD.
THERE IS NO VIOLENT CRIMES UP HERE.
WE DON'T SEE RAPE OR, YOU KNOW, PHYSICAL ASSAULTS.
IT'S MAINLY PROPERTY AND THE CHIEF TOLD ME PLAINLY WHEN THIEVES EVER LOOKING FOR PROPERTY, THEY GO WHERE THE PROPERTY IS.
AND I UNDERSTOOD THAT BUT IT HAS WORKED OUT AND I UNDERSTAND HIS GOALS AND HIS GOALS ARE TO PREVENT CRIME SO WE'RE WITH HIM I DON'T THINK IT'S A GOOD IDEA.
I WOULD PREFER IT IF HE WOULD MAYBE EVEN DO QUADRANTS RATHER THAN THREE SECTIONS BUT THERE HAS BEEN NO CHANGE FOR THE BETTER IN THIS DECISION HE HAS MADE AS FAR AS I CAN SEE BECAUSE THE CAPTAIN IN CHARGE OF THE SECTION, HE IS STRETCHED TOO THIN, THE NORTH SIDE INCLUDED MORE NEIGHBORHOODS THAN ANY OTHER PART OF THE CITY.
I THINK THAT HAS HAD A DRASTIC EFFECT ON THE NUMBERS OF POLICE OFFICERS THAT CAN CONTROL OUR STREETS AND JUST GENERALLY BE VISIBLE TO THE PEOPLE ON THE NORTH SIDE.
I IS A TRAGEDY SHE CAN'T COME OUT THE DOOR... DRIVE BY SHOOTING ON MY BIRTHDAY LAST YEAR ONE I'LL NEVER FORGET.
>> YOU SEE THE POLICE WHEN THEY COME BUT YOU DON'T SEE THEM ACTUALLY WALKING THE BEAT IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD.
WE HAVE TO CALL THE POLICE OCCASIONALLY WHETHER IT IS AN EMPLOYEE'S CRAZY EX-BOYFRIEND OR CROWD ROWDY CUSTOMER, GENERAL NUISANCE IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD.
I HAVEN'T HAD TO CALL THEM AS A AREN'T.
JUST AS A BUSINESS OWNER.
I HAVE FRIENDS TO WHO LIVE IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD AND CALL POLICE ON OCCASION.
THE EXPERIENCE HAS ALWAYS BEEN POSITIVE AND VERY HELPFUL SO I'VE NOTICED THAT SINCE BUCKNER HAS BECOME CHIEF, THE POLICE RESPONSE IS MORE SOLUTION ORIENTED.
THEY RESPOND TO THE PROBLEMS PRESENTED.
THEY TAKE INTO ACCOUNT MENTAL HEALTH AND SUBSTANCE USE ISSUES AND I THINK THEY'RE REALLY TRYING TO ADDRESS THE SITUATION AS A WHOLE.
>> I REALLY THINK IT GOES TO THE IMPLICIT BIAS OF AN IDEA I'LL GIVE YOU A BRIEF EXAMPLE OF PEOPLE WHO LIVE IN SUCH CLOSE PROXIMITY BUT ARE SEPARATED BY A VIADUCT TO BE TREATED DIFFERENTLY BY THE SYRACUSE POLICE DEPARTMENT.
IF THERE IS SOMEONE ON THE UNIVERSITY AND LET'S SAY THEY'RE BEHAVING BADLY, THEY MAY BE APPROACHED AND TOLD TO GO TO THE DORM ROOM.
UNDER THE ASSUMPTION IT IS A COLLEGE KID, BEHAVING BADLY.
THAT'S WHAT COLLEGE KIDS DO.
THEY'RE HERE TO LEARN.
YOU MIGHT SEE THE SAME KID WHO LIVES ON THE OTHER SIDE OF THE VIADUCT IN THE CONCENTRATED NEIGHBORHOOD OF POVERTY WHERE THE CRIME RATE MIGHT BE HIGHER ACTING BADLY IN THE SAME MANNER BUT BE TREATED VERY DIFFERENTLY.
IT MAY TURN INTO A STOP, AN OFFICIAL DETAINMENT, A SEARCH, WHERE ARE YOU GOING, WHAT ARE YOU DOING?
WHAT ARE YOU ATTEMPTING TO DO AND BECOMES A WHO IS TILE ENCOUNT-- WHO IS HOSTILE ENCOUNTER BASED ON WHERE THE PERSON IS ON THE DEMOGRAPHIC EVEN THOUGH THEY'RE SEVEN FEET AWAY FROM EACH OTHER.
>> I'VE STUDIED THE HISTORY OF THE 81 DEBATE AND THE 81 PROJECT.
WHEN YOU LOOK BACK AT THE ARTICLES, YOU CAN SEE THAT THERE WERE SIGNIFICANT CONCERNS LOCALLY ULTIMATELY.
IT WAS THE FEDERAL HIGHWAY ADMINISTRATION, ALONG WITH THE STATE AND THEY IMPOSED THEIR WILL ON THE PEOPLE OF THE CITY OF SYRACUSE AND WE HAVE LIVED WITH THAT LEGACY FOR 60 YEARS NOW WHAT HAPPENED AT ST. LUCIE'S JIM THAT NIGHT REALLY GAVE ME HOPE FOR NYCOMMUNITY.
IF NIP EVER HAD OR WAS IN A PLACE OF I DON'T HAVE FAITH IN SYRACUSE BECAUSE SYRACUSE, THEY HAVE NO KIND OF UNIFIED FRONT, THIS THE NIGHT, IT GAVE ME EVERYTHING I NEEDED TO KNOW THAT MY CITY, WHEN THERE IS SOMETHING THAT WE NEED TO STAND TOGETHER IN REGARDS TO, WE CAN DO THIS.
>> I EXPECTED TO SEE A LEVEL OF FRUSTRATION BASED UPON SOME HISTORICAL BUILDUP, CERTAINLY WHEN YOU READ THE HEADLINES FOR THINGS THAT ARE GOING ON WITH THE POLICE DEPARTMENT AND THE COMMUNITY, THERE WAS NO QUESTION THERE WERE MANY THINGS THAT WERE PERCEIVED TO BE NEGATIVE OR OUT OF ALIGNMENT WITH WHAT THE COMMUNITY EXPECTED OF ITS POLICE DEPARTMENT BUT AFTER GOING THROUGH THAT INCIDENT, THE ONE THING THAT WE COLLECTIVELY AGREED UPON IS THAT IT WAS NEEDED.
>> I'M ABLE TO SHOW OUR COMMUNITY THAT FIRST OF ALL THAT THE POLICE ARE REACHABLE.
AND NOT JUST THE POLICE OFFICER BUT A SERGEANT.
NOT ONLY A SERGEANT BUT ONE THAT HOLDS AN OFFICE WITHIN THE DEPARTMENT THAT HAS THE CHIEF'S EAR.
SO US BEING ABLE TO HAVE SERGEANT MALINOWSKI PRESENT IN THE COMMUNITY AND NOT ONLY JUST PRESENT IN THE COMMUNITY.
NOW I CALL THIS MAN A FRIEND.
A VERY DEAR FRIEND OF MINE.
HE IS PRESENT ON AND OFF THE SHIFT AND HE DOES THINGS THAT SOMETIMES I DON'T EVEN ASK HIM TO DO.
AND THE COMMUNITY CAN SEE THAT.
WE WERE OUT IN THE COMMUNITY ICE CREAM GIVE AWAYS, BACK PACK GIVEAWAYS, PASSING OUT HALLOWEEN CANDY TO THE KIDS WE WERE IN THE COMMUNITY, WE WERE TRYING TO DO EVERYTHING WE COULD TO SHOW POLICE ARE HUMAN BEINGS AND I THOUGHT PERSONALLY THAT, YOU KNOW, THROUGH THIS CHIEF'S DIRECTS OF BRANDING, SO SHOW WAS WE ARE DOING AND COMMUNITY RELATION, I THOUGHT WE WERE TURNING A CORNER AND SUPER PROUD OF WHAT TOOK PLACE.
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