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Clergyman Calls for ‘New, Creative, Comprehensive’ Community Policing Efforts

Rev. Lewis Stewart.
WXXI NEWS
Rev. Lewis Stewart.

He's calling it an ice breaker, but Reverend Lewis Stewart of the United Christian Leadership Ministry is also hoping a recent community meeting with police officers goes far beyond just words.

At a news conference on Friday, Stewart was joined by other clergy and spoke about an inaugural event days prior that focused on ways to build trust between police and the people they serve.

More than 40 people, including high ranking officials from Brighton, Rochester and Irondequoit police departments got to know each other through the candid sessions.

“I'm tired of being in an adversarial relationship. I think right now in the 21st century we need to look at how we can build bridges and get things done, because if we don't, we're in for some serious times ahead,” Stewart said.

Stewart said the purpose of the meeting was to generate positive discussions and open up the lines of communication. Participants were split up into four small groups, deconstructing topics such as past injustices and institutional racism.

“We wrapped up and asked, 'Do we want to meet again?' and everybody raised their hand and said, 'Let's do this again!' and they were very enthusiastic about it,” said Stewart.

Rev. Stewart invited chiefs of police to the meeting, because he said fixing community policing begins with those in power.  

“That's where things get done. That's where policy is set on how officers engage the community,” he said, “And if the officers do it in a way that’s not beneficial to both the community and that particular police jurisdiction, then disciplinary action and retraining become the focus."

The groups are planning to hold several follow up summits on other topics related to the role of policing. The next meeting is tentatively scheduled for January.

Sasha-Ann Simons joined the team at WXXI News in 2015 as a Multimedia Reporter/Producer. She tells stories about the innovation economy and technology in upstate New York and also does general assignment reporting. Sasha-Ann is the host of Arts InFocus, WXXI-TV's weekly arts and culture program. She is also a fill-in host and regular contributor to Need To Know.