NYSP, Monroe County Deputies to assist RPD amid staff shortages and rising crime

ROCHESTER N.Y. (WHEC) — New York State Police and Monroe County Sheriff’s Deputies will increase their presence in Rochester to assist with rising crimes and staffing shortages at the Rochester Police Department.

The RPD announced that it will partner with deputies and troopers to patrol areas where the violence is repeatedly occurring.

Nearly 100% of Rochester’s shooting incidents are happening on only 11% of the city’s street segments, according to a statement from RPD. That statement also said increasing violence suppression tactics, including through law enforcement, could help to stop gun violence.

Click here to view the RPD’s Open Data Portal.

RPD Chief David Smith said the partnership is aiming to increase neighborhood safety. The partnership will incorporate data on crime to achieve very focused targeting on violence prevention. The partnership will last indefinitely.

"I’m not, obviously, going to get into our operational plans," Smith said. "We don’t want to give away what we’re doing. But, we will be, but we always do, we will be doing data-driven policing in very specific, high violence, areas. By no means is this going to be a saturation patrol, or zero-tolerance effort. It will be data-driven, focused, police work."

The sheriff’s office says in all these deployments, the Rochester Police Department will be "in charge" and that other parts of the county will not be left without protection.

To address staffing shortages, RPD has also increased officer recruitment efforts, and offered an additional civil service exam this past spring. Smith said that there are currently 68 vacancies for officers on patrol jobs. Click here to learn more about how to apply.