Local effort to prevent mass shootings looks to expand statewide

ROCHESTER, N.Y. (WROC) — A group formed in Monroe County to prevent targeted violence, like mass shootings, has created a model that might be adopted by other areas of the state, or even the country.

Rochester Threat Advisory Committee, or ROCTAC, was formed around four years ago.

According to Monroe County Sheriff Todd Baxter, the idea blossomed after 7-year-old Hunter Resch was shot and killed by his father in Greece in 2019. Baxter said he noted the red flags that could have been seen and addressed.

“Everybody did their job and we still ended up with a pretty predictable murder,” Baxter said.

ROCTAC is built to do just that in an effort to prevent a similar tragedy. It pulls together a variety of businesses, school districts, police agencies, and non-profits to intervene before someone turns to violence. Folks can now approach ROCTAC with any suspicions.

“We get a lot from law enforcement, school districts, but some come from HR officials who go ‘this one is just different, this one is scaring me,’ and now they have someone to report that to,” Baxter said. “We do a quick triage; we look at it and ‘is it just an issue with a disgruntled employee? Or is this targeted violence?’ And that’s how we separate the two.”

If it’s determined there is a threat, Baxter said they first try to turn to non-law enforcement means.

“Because targeted violence is almost like a science, you can see the predictors and the escalation and predictable behaviors that someone is going to trigger before they go out and do school shooting or workplace violence shooting or even a targeted domestic violence shooting, you can see those behaviors ahead of time if you see the information,” Baxter said.

Thursday, ROCTAC representatives where in Albany offering a review of their team and methods.

“That’s what the governor did with an executive order, challenged every country, told every county to develop a threat management team. It doesn’t have to be exactly ROCTAC but – do something in your community that’s comprehensive and holistic,” Baxter explained.

Baxter said Erie County adopted a similar strategy after the Tops mass shooting in Buffalo.

Baxter added that while it’s hard to measure success in the area of prevention, there have been cases where someone, even a student, clearly posed a real threat to others and now they’re, as he said, whole again and leading relatively healthy lives.

ROCTAC, while promoting its model in Albany, is also providing awareness of its existence and resources in various corners of our community. You can learn more about it here .

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