(Rochester, N.Y.) -- Police outreach in Rochester's Dayton Street area is in full swing after the shooting of Officer Anthony DiPonizio several weeks ago.
There's now a police trailer at the end of Dayton Street. It’s called TIPS for "Trust, Information, Programs, and Services."
It’s a place people can easily access police for help.
Trying to get someone to rent on Dayton just weeks after a teen shot a police officer in the head is a pretty tough sell. The added police presence provides a new spin, however.
"I've been telling people that this is the safest street in Rochester right now and it probably will be for quite sometime," said Tom Accorso, who owns property there.
Accorso manages a three-bedroom apartment, which now goes for $450 instead of $550 due to the shooting. He planned on showing it to a prospective tenant Tuesday, but was surprised at what he found.
"The back window is smashed out and down in the basement, they stole all the copper out of it, and the water's running. The floors are buckling from the damage. We were pretty surprised just with the amount of police presence and everything," he said. “Everything relies in the police present right now. The more that they do--and I am sure that they care--the more that they do, the better things are gonna get, but right now there's still some work that needs to be done."
Seeing the police post right outside their windows, some neighbors say they do feel safer. Some view it as an olive branch, at least police are trying and the community is responding.
But, they do worry about that fractured relationship.
"I grew up in this neighborhood,” said Larry Copeland.
He said community members "may come talk to [police] but, the new era don't want to talk to the police of what they've been through, what they know. That's just what it is."
Getting youth to trust police fully is still a challenge. There's still a lot to repair, but at least everyone's making an effort.
The TIPS police trailer will remain on Dayton Street for the next several weeks.
