Patrol beats may be a thing of the past, but police
commitment to the community is continuous. Areas like Grant Street have been
subject to crime over the years, but according to Buffalo police, the
neighborhood is improving. “It has gotten progressively better over the years,”
said Police Chief Joseph Gramaglia, who oversees the B-district, on the West
Side. While budget constraints implemented in 2003 directly impacted the
decline in police beat walking, new efforts were made on behalf of the force to
engage the community in more personal, effective ways, resulting in a positive
impact. Captain Steve Nichols, a West Side native, is confident in the
direction the community is headed. “Our focus has been to get out and engage the
community. We know the only way to make it safe is to partner with the
community,” Nichols said. By Chris Baggs and Neseemah Coleman
