Seeking to gain trust, police plan outreach

Rochester Police are hoping outreach will help public more fully understand some of there procedures in daily policing. (Courtesy photo)

ROCHESTER - In the wake of troubling incidents in Ferguson, Mo., New York and Virginia that revealed sometimes deep divides between police and the public they are charged to protect, Rochester Police will sponsor an outreach program next month in which community relationships will be the focus.

"It's all about trust between the community and police," said Rochester Police Capt. Gary Boudreau.

While Boudreau noted that most of the flare-ups nationwide involved black victims at the hands of white police officers and that Rochester doesn't necessarily have a large African-American population, Rochester police want to extend a hand to all community members, no matter their race or religion.

He said the public's perception of police can be tainted by seemingly innocuous gestures or demeanor.

"Sometimes an officer will place his hands in a certain way during a traffic stop or an interview," Boudreau said, making the civilian feel like the officer is being rude or insensitive or arrogant.

But Boudreau said the way an officer positions himself during that traffic stop is usually rooted in months of police training designed to protect himself from potentially violent confrontations.

"When police pull someone over for a broken taillight, they don't know if this person has just committed a robbery," he said. "They have to protect themselves, too."

That's where the trust and transparency comes in, Boudreau said.

Rochester Police want the public to know they do things for a reason and it's to keep the public as well as police safe.

The forum will focus on information and stories to increase mutual understanding, strengthen trusting relationships and identify positive steps police and the community can take with regard to policing.

Called a Community Conversation, the forum will be held April 2 from 6-9 p.m. at the Frisbie Memorial Conference Center.

Door will open at 5:30 p.m. There will be refreshments, and in an effort to encourage young families to attend, onsite child care will be available.

To register for this event go to www.nhlistens.org