Buffalo, N.Y. (WBEN) - When Buffalo Mayor Chris Scanlon introduced a new neighborhood-driven Buffalo Police Department foot patrol initiative, he wasn't sure what the results would be.
Now, several months into the program, Scanlon and police department leadership are not just pleased, they are ecstatic with the early returns.
First, it has helped build a tighter bond between the police and the city's neighborhoods. The 20-member foot patrol team literally hit every city neighborhood and business district, Scanlon said.
"It was all about building relationships," said Patrick Overdorf, Buffalo Deputy Police Commissioner.
Secondly, through a survey that police offered - and 3,055 people responded - there were five areas of concerns that seemed universal in all city neighborhoods.
The concerns:
- Car thefts and break-ins
- Speeding
- Problem houses
- ATVs and dirt bikes
- Gun violence
The responses have given the Buffalo Police Department a road map for key issues it must address, Overdorf said.
"Voices were not only heard, we will act on them," Overdorf said.
Scanlon says the optics of more police conducting foot patrols was a big psychological lift for city residents.
"I keep hearing we want to see more officers out there, walking the streets," Scanlon said.
The 20-member foot patrol team will be augmented by district assigned officers, with the patrols typically running from 10 a.m.-to-8 p.m. daily.
"Our approach is about listening to the residents and not dictating to them," Scanlon said.
As for the 3,055 survey responses, Scanlon was taken back and by quite a bit, he admitted.
"It's not everyday you get 3,000 people to respond to a survey," Scanlon said.