The first ever "Justice and Opportunity Week"continues through Friday in Buffalo. The free public eventsare being held to help to decrease tensions between residents and the Buffalo Police Department.
A new survey by Open Buffalo of more than 2,000 residents found that about half view police in a positive light and only about one-third believe police work well with their neighborhood. Open Buffalo Executive Director Franchelle Hart says implementing community policing citywide would help improve relations.
"[There is] really an overwhelming call from the community was for police officers to get of patrol cars and just have a conversation with folks in the community, and that was a real desire especially in the older population," Hart said.
Mayor Byron Brown says the city has 11 community police officers and all district police stations are open once a month for residents to meet with department members. But Brown says the city is open to additional dialogue.
"Relationship-building with the community is constant. It's something that we work on every single day and we are always adding additional ways to reach out to the community, to partner with the community," Brown said.
Hart says building trust between residents and police will go a long way towards solving crime, preventing crime, and keeping Buffalo from becoming the next Ferguson or Baton Rouge.