Public Safety Platform

Assuring the safety and security of our citys people is a paramount obligation of city
government. The increasing incidence of violent crime is among the most significant
signs of Syracuses decline and a telling indictment of the failed policies of the past 16
years.
Last year was the deadliest on record in Syracuse as homicide took the lives of 31
people in our city. The number of murders in Syracuse has almost tripled in less than a
decade. Compounding the problem is a decline in the homicide solve rate from
approximately 80% to around 40% -- close to the worst in New York State.
The increase of violent crime in Syracuse echoes the worsening poverty in our city.
In 2016, Syracuses poverty rate was 13th worst in the nation, according to U.S. Census
Bureau data. While the national poverty rate dropped to 12.7% -- the lowest level since
2007 -- poverty in Syracuse continued to worsen. Syracuse's poverty rate increased to
32.1% in 2016, up from 31% in 2015. Syracuse has the highest concentration of poverty
among minorities of any city in the country.
Crime feeds on poverty. To promote public safety and combat crime, Syracuse must
address the poverty that plagues our neighborhoods. In the long-term, enhanced
educational and economic opportunity are the most effective ways to assure public
safety in our city.
In the near term, we simply must provide Syracuse with the police protection our people
deserve.
As we address the enduring, fundamental factors that contribute to crime, we must take
steps to immediately confront criminal activity and secure the safety of our citizens.
We need a police department with the personnel levels required to reverse the increase
in violent crime, implement community policing, and enhance public confidence in
Syracuses commitment to public safety.
We need to renew our citys central commitment to combatting crime.

Evidence of Syracuses Crime Problems

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 Record-breaking homicide rate
A record number of people were killed -- 31 lives were taken -- as a result
of homicides in Syracuse during 2016.
The number of murders in Syracuse has almost tripled in under ten years.
The citys homicide solve rate has decreased to a level that is among the
worst in New York State.
Rampant gun violence
In 2016, Syracuse city police received 385 calls for shots fired. More than
120 shootings resulted in injuries.
Of the city's 31 homicides in 2016, 19 were gun-related.
Syracuse teenagers are being harmed by guns at a rate far higher than
those in most other cities. (According to an Associated Press/USA Today
analysis, Syracuses rate of teen shootings per capita is more than double
that of most U.S. cities with populations of 50,000 or more.)
Fewer law enforcement personnel and higher overtime costs
The ranks of full-time law enforcement personnel in Syracuse has
declined from 505 in 2009 to 415 in 2016. Thats 90 fewer officers than
2009 levels and approximately 50 fewer than the annual average (465) for
the past decade, according to New York State Division of Criminal Justice
Services data.
Declining levels of police personnel exacerbate overtime issues. Syracuse
City police overtime costs exceed $13 million dollars annually, an expense
that has doubled since 2012.
Deplorable Public Safety Ratings
Syracuse is safer than only 8% of U.S. cities, according to ratings from
NeighborhoodScout.com (based on 2015 data). The Syracuse violent
crime rate is more than twice the state and national medium.

Focus on Combatting Crime

Current levels of police personnel are at record lows. As Mayor, I will increase the
number of officers to make Syracuse safer. This will enable our law enforcement
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professional to create relationships with the residents by implementing true community
policing concepts.
I will direct the Syracuse Police Department to develop and implement a new strategic
plan -- one which incorporates the highest of ethical standards, founded on a
commitment to trust, respect and service to the community.
I will order a comprehensive reorganization of the Syracuse Police Department and
redeployment of personnel resources with a renewed focus on combatting crime.
The Police Chief will be tasked with finding efficiencies with an eye toward developing
and carrying out a plan that places officers in assignments best suited for responding to
and solving crimes.
We will increase the efficacious use of body cameras by creating a strong policy on their
use while protecting the privacy of others.
We will implement true community policing with all available resources and leverage
available resources with measures that include:
Phase out of the Airport Division of Syracuse Police Department
Phase out the Syracuse Police Departments role in traffic enforcement on
interstate highways
Rejoin the Drug Enforcement Administration's Central New York Drug Task to
reinforce our citys commitment to interagency cooperation and renew our pledge
to combat the drug abuse epidemic ravaging our community.
I will personally review all complaints of police misconduct to assure our citizens that
issues relating to the integrity of the Syracuse Police Department are addressed at the
highest levels of city government.