Topics for body camera meetings released

Mayor Lovely A. Warren, City Council President Loretta C. Scott and Police Chief Michael Ciminelli on Tuesday announced the discussion topics and format for the upcoming public meetings on the Rochester Police Department’s Body Worn Camera Program.

“I am looking forward to hearing from our citizens who will help us ensure that the Body Worn Camera Program is the most effective tool it can possibly be,” said Warren. “The citizens who participate in these forums will help us create safer, more vibrant neighborhoods, which makes it easier to accomplish our other goals of creating more jobs and providing all of our children with a quality education.”

“Citizen participation is crucial to the success of the Body Worn Camera Program because it is imperative that our citizens have the utmost confidence that the cameras are be being used in the most effective manner possible,” said Scott. “I have no doubt these forums will generate robust discussions, which will further improve the value of this important program.”

At each session, the Rochester Police Department will provide an update on the Body Worn Camera Program and facilitate table discussions on a range of policy considerations.

The table topics are: When will the cameras be on or off? Can citizens opt out of being recorded? Who can see the data captured by the camera? How long will the data be maintained?

There will also be a table for miscellaneous topics and a table to display the different cameras the RPD is considering for the program. Upon conclusion of the discussions, table facilitators will provide a summary report to all present on what was discussed at the tables.

Community input sessions will be held from 6 to 7:30 p.m. in each patrol section. Dates and location are as follows:

• Thursday, Nov. 12 – City Hall Atrium, 30 Church St. (Central Section)

• Monday, Nov. 16 – Thomas P. Ryan R-Center, 530 Webster Ave. (Goodman Section)

• Monday, Nov. 23 -Edgerton R-Center, 41 Backus St. (Lake Section)

• Monday, Nov. 30 – Danforth Community Center and Auditorium, 200 West Ave. (Genesee Section)

• Thursday, Dec. 3 – David F. Gantt R-Center, 700 North St. (Clinton Section)