The city has launched the Buffalo Police Department's annual summer foot and bike patrols. WBFO's Eileen Buckley reports officers will be located at specific areas throughout each of the city's five police districts to help make streets safer.
Mayor Brown Brown stood at the busy corner of Main Street and Utica Thursday with several Police officers riding bikes and a segway.
"During most of the summer you will see these officers out in full force on bicycle and foot in neighborhoods, business districts and parks through out the City of Buffalo," said Mayor Brown.
The enhanced, high-visibility patrols get officers out of patrol cars and directly into business districts and neighborhoods.
"When you're in a patrol car going from call to call patrolling doing routine patrol, this gets them out on the the streets," said Buffalo Police Commissioner Daniel Derenda.
Derenda said it helps to build trust between police and residents. http://youtu.be/NLex7Op1OyE
"We will be out engaging the community," said Derenda. "We want people to feel safe."
Buffalo Common Council member Darius Pridgen represents the Ellicott District, a mix of downtown business and residential areas.
Pridgen agrees these patrols work to strengthen relationships between citizens and officers, especially in higher-crime neighborhoods.
"I'm hopeful as people see the officers out bikes and segways, that if they no something, they will say something, and that they feel secure that they do have that opportunity to talk to an officer," said Pridgen.
The extra foot and bike patrols will be out every day until the end of this summer.