On September 11, the Eastside Pioneers, Meadow Park and Slatterly Park Neighborhood Associations joined together to organize a community wide forum focusing on the recent neighborhood shootings in Rochester.
The gym at the Boys and Girls Club was packed with over 300 neighbors interested in having local officials answer their questions. The panel included Sgt. Jeff Stilwell, supervisor of the police department's narcotics unit; Steve Thompson, director Rochester Police Department Narcotics and Gang Unit; Olmsted County Attorney, Mark Ostrem; a representative from Victim Services, Police Chief Roger Peterson; Olmsted County Sheriff Chief Deputy Mark Darnell; and Crime Prevention volunteer Anthony Deveroux.
Mike LaPlante, Eastside Pioneers Association President moderated the forum, using questions written on note cards submitted from the audience.
Elected officials and candidates for public office are strongly encouraged to attend. Given the time limitations, we will only have time for introductions of elected officials and candidates, there will not be time for speeches.
The neighborhood associations felt this meeting was the first step in a concerted effort to seek collaborative efforts to improve public safety and to enhance the quality of our neighborhoods.
Kevin Fleming, a neighborhood member has created a blog on the subject [1] with additional thoughts on the meeting.