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Local Planned Parenthood Says Their Doors Are Open

Two Rochester Police Department cars parked in a lot adjacent to the Planned Parenthood facility on University Avenue.
Veronica Volk
/
WXXI
Two Rochester Police Department cars parked in a lot adjacent to the Planned Parenthood facility on University Avenue.

Planned Parenthood of Central and Western New York say they are confident in their ability to keep patients and staff safe.

After a gunman killed three people at a facility in Colorado last week, Spokesperson Erin Cabral says they don't want people to have fear or anxiety about coming in.

"Planned Parenthood is open for business. These doors do not close, and we are there for our patients and our communities. This is a safe space because we have appropriate security measures in place to ensure their safety."

Governor Andrew Cuomo announced this past weekend that there will be heightened security by state police outside of Planned Parenthood locations across New York.

Cabral says they've been working with local police since before the shooting.

"We're consistently in touch with law enforcement, locally, in our region, and this tragic incident in Colorado doesn't change that, but we were immediately in touch with our local law enforcement just to make sure they were aware of what was happening."

A spokeswoman from the RPD writes in an email, "Historically, this location has been a special attention for us. Unfortunately for operational security purposes we can not discuss our operation plan."

Cabral says, more importantly, they are confident in the security measures already in place.

"Security is always our number one priority. The safety of our patients and staff is always at the front of our mind, and today is no different."

Cabral says they believe the Colorado incident was isolated, and they do not anticipate something similar happening here, but she says they are prepared.

Veronica Volk is a senior editor and producer for WXXI News.