Rochester Police establishes safe exchange zone

ROCHESTER — The Rochester Police Department’s newly established safe exchange zone encourages residents to “stay safe, stay smart [and] exchange with confidence.”

With designated safe exchange zone signs now posted in the Rochester Police parking lot, residents can make child custody exchanges, online marketplace transactions and private party sales in a controlled environment with 24-hour video surveillance.

“The parking lot is under surveillance and there’s an officer at the station that can come out and assist if need be,” said Chief of Police Michael Assad.

“It’s a neutral area. It's a safe area so there’s no issues of anybody getting hurt or robbed.”

Assad designed the signs using “AI magic.”

“[Highway Surveyor] Jeffrey Eldridge was able to put the sign up in our parking lot for us, right in the perfect location where the cameras have full view of the lot and anybody coming in,” he said.

Ultimately, Assad hopes that this new zone will act as a "deterrent" for any individuals with “nefarious intent on doing harm to somebody or stealing from somebody.”

The Rochester Police Department is located at 29 Dexter Lane.