Neighbhorhood Empowerment Team (NET) presentation and Ride-Alongs
Along with representatives of the Rochester City Administration, Lt. Tom Belcher and staff provided a detailed description of Rochester's strategy to empower citizens to improve neighborhood public safety. Participants learned about the structure of NET, funding, and current practices to promote citizen participation. Following the presentation, participants had an opportunity to ride in police cars, as Rochester Police Department officers patrolled each neighborhood and interacted with community members.

Drug Court and Meeting with Judge Joseph Valentino
With simultaneous translation, the Novgorod delegation observed a typical session of Rochester's Drug Court. Participants learned about the court mandated rehabilitation programs for substance abusers and the key ingredients to success in the Drug Court program. Following the Court session, Novgorod participants were able to ask questions of Judge Valentino and learn more about the functions of the court, its goals and mission.

Police and Citizen's Interaction Committee (PCIC)
Located at the Chase Manhattan Bank in the Rochester Police Department's Downtown Section, the Novgorod delegation observed and participated in a PCIC meeting. Organized by the Captain of the Downtown Section, the PCIC is organized once a month to inform citizens about current crime trends and statistics, describe Rochester Police Department programs and assistance, and to improve communication between police and the community. The meeting was followed by a tour of Chase Manhattan's security system and lunch with police and bank officials.

D.A.R.E. Presentation
Deputy Sheriff Mike Mancerella provided a succinct description of the DARE curriculum for grade school and middle school children. His presentation included a detailed overview of the 12-week curriculum, as well as role-plays to illustrate interactive techniques used with youth. The presentation addressed the delegation's interest in learning about school/police cooperation and prevention programs for youth.

Victim Assistance Presentation
Len Wildman, Head of the Victim Assistance Unit (VAU) at the Rochester Police Department, made a presentation on the myriad of RPD programs designed to assist victims of violent crime. As founder of the VAU, Mr. Wildman talked about the history of the Unit, mission statement and results. The seminar focused on the Community Volunteer Response Team, Domestic Violence Assistance Team, and the Restorative Justice Programs for youth. Participants eagerly asked questions and found Mr. Wildman's presentation extremely informative and useful.