‘This is not rocket science:’ Monroe Co. Sheriff calls for end to violence against police

ROCHESTER, N.Y. (WROC) — Monroe County Sheriff Todd Baxter is sharing a call on the community and to public officials following the recent rise in assaults on police officers.

Last week, a man opened fire on a Rochester police officer’s patrol vehicle during a traffic stop. Two shots were fired and no one was injured. It happened only days before the two-year mark of RPD Officer Anthony Mazurkiewicz’s death.

News 8’s Natalie Kucko sat down with the Sheriff, who says these crimes are becoming part of the Rochester community’s culture. It’s something he says he refuses to accept, which prompts a greater call to action.

“Think about the change in our culture when you’ve had two ambushes on police officers in two years, brazen ambushes. That’s a change in culture and we need to address that,” said Sheriff Baxter.

On Friday, Baxter took to social media to share a video plea, calling for an end to the escalating violence on local law enforcement. In the message, the Sheriff said, ‘If they’re not safe, you’re not safe.’

The Sheriff previously patrolled the area of Smith and Grape Streets, where last week’s shooting took place, for more than 20 years.

As he describes, it hits close to home, especially ahead of the anniversary of Officer Mazurkiewicz’s death.

“It sets it all back half a step, where you think, ‘I thought we were in the healing process.’ But apparently, we’re still in the denial process. This cannot keep going on in our community without outrage occurring, or without a firestorm of people standing up and saying, ‘What is going on?'” said the Sheriff.

Back in 2022, Sheriff Baxter helped to create the Consortium for Safe Communities, a group designated to advocate for improved public safety legislation in New York State.

Baxter has brought the initiative to Erie County, Albany County, and the Mohawk Valley to garner support to both educate the public on current laws and to help make changes.

“We’re not asking for anything so grandiose or off the charts. We’re asking for simple improvements to the current law. All I know is I can’t sit here with the pulpit of our Sheriff’s Office and let this become our norm, that we’re going to accept attacks on police officers, and no one says anything or does anything differently about that.”

Among the Sheriff’s main concentrations, convicted felons being released from prison and repeating the same actions.

“This is not rocket science. This is simple stuff, and I don’t know why I can never answer that question. But, I know that we need to sit down in rooms, find some commonality, and just improve our systems,” he said.

Baxter says the Consortium he established is only growing. He intends to now bring the efforts to the I-87 corridor and New York metropolitan area to continue the conversation even further across the state.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to RochesterFirst.