‘If they’re not safe, you’re not safe:’ Law enforcement calls for end to violence against police

ROCHESTER, N.Y. (WROC) — Rochester’s law enforcement agencies are calling for an end to violence against police officers following an incident where gunshots were fired at an occupied RPD vehicle.

Monroe County Sheriff Todd Baxter released a video statement Friday in response to Thursday’s incident, asking for the community to come together to make improvements to the current systems.

This comes after shots were fired at a marked Rochester Police vehicle on Grape Street during a traffic stop. The officer inside the car was not injured. Police arrested Ronald Adams and accused him of the shooting.

According to Baxter, assaults on police officers have gone up 46% last year. He reiterated the comment “If they’re not safe, you’re not safe.”

“We need help from the community, we need help from the systems, we need help from everybody to stand up and say ‘what is going on? What is going on?’ This cannot be our norm, we cannot accept this violence from our people, our citizens, and our police officers,” said Baxter.

Baxter also brought up this shooting happened two years after the shooting of RPD Office Anthony Mazurkiewicz.

The Rochester Police Locust Club also put out a statement on Thursday, saying that it’s shocking how an officer faces grave danger in broad daylight while carrying out their duties.

Rochester Mayor Malik Evans also released a statement calling for the community to remain vigilant and work together against gun violence in the Rochester community.

Adams was charged with attempted aggravated murder, reckless endangerment, criminal possession of a weapon, and criminal possession of stolen property. He pleaded not guilty to these charges Friday morning.

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