Willie Lightfoot

Rochester Mayor Lovely Warren and City Council President Loretta Scott are calling for a residency requirement for all newly hired officers in the Rochester Police Department.

Warren said that having officers live in the community they protect and serve will help build relationships with the people that they are policing.

Rev. Lewis Stewart and the United Christian Leadership Ministry were joined by more than a dozen community leaders for a solutions-focused discussion on police reform and community relations Thursday night. Roughly 50 people were on hand for the discussion at First Church of God on Clarissa Street.

The forum included members of law enforcement such as Rochester Police Chief La’Ron Singletary, activists from Rochester’s local Black Lives Matter movement, Rochester City Council and others.

A Rochester City Council leader is hoping a lot of people take part in a virtual town hall this week to combat gun violence.

Council Vice President Willie Lightfoot said that due to the coronavirus pandemic, the forum scheduled for Wednesday, June 24, will be held online.  But he is still hoping a lot of people take part in that session and submit questions and comments.

Lightfoot chairs the ROC Against Gun Violence Coalition, and he said he wants to hear not only from city residents, but from people all over the region.

The Rev. Lewis Stewart and the United Christian Leadership Ministry spoke Monday in support of this weekend’s Black Lives Matter rally -- but said the rioting and looting that followed do not honor the memory of George Floyd. 

Floyd's death on May 25 in Minneapolis after a police officer knelt on his neck sparked protests across the country, including in Rochester. 

Members of Rochester City Council and concerned community members are calling for a deeper look into the incident between a 10-year-old girl and city police. 

Rochester police arrested three people during a traffic stop on Route 104 Sunday. , Rochester Police Chief La’Ron Singletary says during that stop, officers handcuffed a 10-year-old girl who was in the car to assist in “controlling her actions and for the safety of everyone involved."

Rochester City Council has a new vice president. At-large Council member Willie J. Lightfoot was elevated to the post Tuesday night by a unanimous vote. His nomination was announced earlier this week.

“I am honored and humbled to serve our great city as the vice president of the City Council. I am grateful to my colleagues on City Council for selecting me and look forward to serving in this role,” said Lightfoot.