♪ ♪ >> BREAKING NEWS THIS MORNING FROM SYRACUSE'S NORTH SIDE.

12-YEAR-OLD BOY IS NOW DEAD AFTER SHOOTING LAST NIGHT.

>> OFFICERS SAY JAMES SPRINGER, III WAS HIT BY GUNFIRE AT FAMILY GATHERING ON JOHN STREET.

>> ONE HOMICIDE IS TOO MANY IN THIS CITY.

I HIT THE TIPPING POINT AT NUMBER 1.

AND SO THIS IS YET ANOTHER EXAMPLE OF THE FACT THAT ENOUGH IS ENOUGH.

>> PEOPLE ARE HURTING.

PEOPLE ARE AFRAID FOR THEMSELVES, FOR OUR CITY.

WE ARE A COMMUNITY THAT RISES TO THE TOP FOR WHATEVER SITUATION THAT COMES TO US.

AND THE MAYOR AND I AND THE CHIEF AND THE SUPERINTENDENT ARE ALL IN.

OUR HEARTS BLEED FOR THESE FAMILIES, OUR CHILDREN AND WHAT IS GOING ON IN OUR COMMUNITY.

>> 12-YEAR-OLD HIT BY A STRAY BULLET, MORE AND MORE CHILDREN GETTING HIT BY GUNFIRE, DYING ON OUR STREETS.

WHAT'S THE ANSWER?

>> WHY HE DOING ALL THAT?

>> WHY HE DOING ALL THAT?

HE NOT RESISTING OR NOTHING.

>> I APPLIED TO BE A POLICE OFFICER REALLY BECAUSE I THOUGHT COULD I DO MORE.

I THOUGHT I COULD HELP MORE.

>> WHERE YOU SEE THE POLICE HELPING A BABY ACROSS THE STREET.

THEY DON'T DO THAT NO MORE.

IT'S ALL PATROL.

IT'S ALL LOOK AND SEE WHAT SOMEBODY GOT BUT IT'S NOT ABOUT HELPING.

>> EVERYTHING IS BECAUSE OF YOU... >> NOW I'M LOOKING OUT A WINDOW.

THAT'S THE POLICE, DEFUND THE POLICE.

IT WAS DISHEARTENING TO SEE.

IT WAS IMPORTANT THAT WE USE THE CONTRACT AS A WAY TO RETAIN GOOD POLICE OFFICERS.

>> TODAY, TO HAVE A POLICE OFFICER THAT LIVES IN OUR COMMUNITY, THAT DRIVES DOWN THE SAME STREET THAT EVERYONE ELSE DOES, THAT'S GOING TO BE THE NEW POLICE OFFICER THAT'S GOING TO BE ABLE TO WALK TO A GROUP OF YOUNG PEOPLE AND SAY HI.

YOU DON'T DESERVE TO BE HERE!

>> POLICE REFORM IS NOT A MOMENT IN TIME.

>> WE ARE PROTECTED... >> ON OUR WORST DAY, THIS IS A NOBLE PROFESSION.

>> ONE HOMICIDE IS TOO MANY IN THIS CITY.

>> PEOPLE ARE RUNNING WHEN THEY HEAR GUNSHOTS.

>> THERE IS A NEW DAY THAT'S COMING IN THE CITY OF SYRACUSE.

♪ ♪ >> THE GAME WITH COLGATE, CAMPUS FESTIVITIES SQUEAKS TO A HIGH POINT WITH MERRY MAKING.

WHAT COULD BE MORE IMPORTANT THAN TO PROMENADE TO THE BIG GAME, WITH A LIVELY GIRL ON YOUR ARM.

>> IN THE 50s THERE WASN'T AN IDEA THAT THE WE HAD A CRISIS IN GROWTH.

WE WERE GROWING LIKE CRAZE AGREE SYRACUSE HAS DONE A LOT OF GROWING SINCE IT WAS SETTLED BACK IN 1794.

BUILT ON THE SALT AND FUR TRADES, IT HAS BECOME THE FOURTH RANKING CITY OF THE EMPIRE STATE.

>> THE POPULATION WAS 220,000.

THE POPULATION PROJECTIONS FOR THE CITY OF SYRACUSE WERE 300,000 BY THE TURN OF THE CENTURY.

WE WEREN'T THINKING THAT THIS WAS A CRISIS WHEN ARE WE HAD TO DO SOMETHING ABOUT OUR ECONOMIC DECLINE.

WE WERE DEALING WITH ECONOMIC GROWTH.

>> KEY TO ITS GROWTH HABITS FINE TRANSPORTATION FACILITIES.

AND TODAY, AS SYRACUSE CONTINUES TO GROW IN MANY FIELDS, EDUCATIONAL, CULTURAL AND INDUSTRIAL, SO IT MUST CONTINUE TO GROW IN ITS STREETS AND HIGHWAYS.

>> IT WAS BUSTLING.

IT WAS WONDERFUL.

AND WHEN YOU THINK ABOUT IT, WE HAD TWO BOWLING ALLEYS.

WE HAD A CHOCOLATE HOUSE THAT MADE CHOCOLATE CANDY.

IT WAS JUST THE THRIVING BUSTLING COMMUNITY.

>> WE HAVE BEEN ONE OF THE ABOLITIONIST CITIES THAT HELPED FREE SLAVES DURING THAT TIME AND WOULD SEND THEM OFF TO CANADA.

WHAT THAT DID TO A LOT OF SOUTHERN BLACKS WAS ALERT THEM SYRACUSE WAS THE PLACE TO COME.

>> I GREW UP IN THE 15th WARD AND WHAT AN EXPERIENCE THAT I RECEIVED BY GROWING UP IN THAT 15th WARD.

GROWING UP THERE WAS SUCH A VIBRANT COMMUNITY.

THERE'S A GREAT HISTORY OF ENTREPRENEURSHIP AND BUSINESSES THAT WE EXPERIENCE THAT I ENVISIONED WHEN I WAS YOUNGER.

>> THINGS CHANGED TREMENDOUSLY IN THE 40S AND 50s.

FAMILIES EXPANDED.

HOUSES WERE BUILT AND SOLD IN RECORD NUMBERS AND WAR TIME TECHNOLOGY WAS ADAPTED TO THE DEMANDS OF AN INCREASINGLY PROSPEROUS CONSUMER MARKET.

>> WHEN WE TALK ABOUT THE BUSINESSES THAT WERE IN THAT AREA, LIKE THE GENERAL MOTORS, THE CHRYSLER, WHICH IS NEW VENTURE GEAR, G.E., GENERAL ELECTRIC.

THAT'S WHERE A MAJORITY OF AFRICAN-AMERICANS AND LATINOS WORKED.

>> WE HAD THOUSANDS AND THOUSANDS OF MANUFACTURING JOBS.

>> MANY LOCATED RIGHT IN THE 15th WARD.

CONTINENTAL, EASY WASHER, EASY BARGAIN.

THOSE WERE MANUFACTURING PLANTS AND YOU COULD SEE ALL THE BIG BUILDINGS, IF YOU LOOK AT FRANKLIN SQUARE AND YOU LOOK AT THE WEST SIDE.

ROCKWELL, ALL THOSE WERE MANUFACTURING PLANTS THAT EMPLOYED THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE AND AFRICAN-AMERICANS TOOK MANY OF THOSE JOBS.

>> IT WAS A THRIVING NEIGHBORHOOD.

IN THE CONTEXT OF TODAY'S TIMES, THAT NEIGHBORHOOD WAS OVERCROWDED.

9,000 PEOPLE.

AND NOW IT HAS MUCH MORE BUT I THINK AT THE TIME, THEY THOUGHT 9,000 PEOPLE WAS TOO MANY PEOPLE TO LIVE IN SOME SMALL RADIUS BUT IT WAS A TIGHT KNIT COMMUNITY.

THEY HAD A LOT OF POLITICAL POWER.

THEY HAD A LOT OF SOCIAL POWER.

AND THEY WERE ORGANIZED.

THEY MET REGULARLY AT THE DUNBAR CENTER, ONE OF THE CORNERSTONE LOCATIONS WHERE THEY MET.

THEY HAD AN ELECTED OFFICIAL THAT REPRESENTED THAT REGION.

THEY WERE DRIVING, THEIR BUSINESSES WERE IN DANGER OF FAILING, IT WAS OVERCROWDED, BUT IT WAS A GOOD NEIGHBORHOOD.

>> IT WAS PHENOMENAL.

IT WAS JUST A COMMUNITY WITHIN A COMMUNITY.

AND IT WAS GREAT BECAUSE ALL OF OUR PARENTS KNEW ONE ANOTHER.

SO CHILDREN KNEW ONE ANOTHER.

SO WE HAD A GREAT COMMUNITY.

>> I CAME HERE AS A FRESHMAN AT S.U.

AND CAME ON 81.

SAW S.U.

OFF TO THE RIGHT.

WHEN WE WERE STUDENTS AT S.U., WE WOULD VERY RARELY YOU KNOW, CROSS THE RUBICON OF 81.

NOT THAT YOU COULDN'T WALK UNDER 81, BUT WHAT'S UNDER 81?

WELL, WE DON'T KNOW.

NOW YOU KNOW THERE IS A HOUSING PROJECT THERE THAT GAVE BIRTH TO THE CRIP TOWN GANG AND BEYOND THAT WAS WHO KNOWS WHAT.

STUDIES HAVE SHOWN NOW THAT IT CREATED A DIVIDE.

AGAIN YOU CAN WALK UNDER 81 BUT SOMETIMES IT'S ARTIFICIAL.

SOMETIMES IT'S PSYCHOLOGICAL BUT RIGHT OR WRONG, THE DIVIDE THERE IS.

>> 81 WAS BUILT WITHOUT A REFERENCE TO THE MIGRATION THAT TOOK PLACE IN THE 50s AND 60s POSTWAR MIGRATION WHEN MANY, MANY AFRICAN-AMERICANS MOVED TO THE NORTH SEEKING THE JOB OPPORTUNITIES THAT EXISTED IN THE NORTH.

>> AND INTERSECT 81 WAS BUILT TO CONNECT A PIPELINE BETWEEN THE NORTH AND THE SOUTH, TRUCK TRAFFIC, BUSINESS ECONOMIC GROWTH FOR OUR NATION.

AT THE TIME WE NEEDED THE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT.

WE NEEDED THE ECONOMIC GROWTH.

THE 81 VIADUCT WAS TO CONNECT THE CITY FROM THE NORTH TO THE SOUTH AND TO START DEVELOPING WHAT WE KNOW IS THE SUBURBAN NEIGHBORHOODS.

>> THESE NEW HIGHWAYS WILL HAVE A FAR REACHING ECONOMIC IMPACT ON THE ENTIRE NATION.

THEY PROVIDE A HEAVY DUTY LINK BETWEEN ALL PARTS OF PRODUCTIVE AMERICA.

>> OUR MAYOR CITY ADMINISTRATION AT THE TIME MAYOR HENNEGER THOUGHT IT WOULD BE A GOOD IDEA BUT THAT BEING SAID, HE NOTED BUILDING A HIGHWAY THROUGH THE HEART OF SYRACUSE WILL IMPRISON ECONOMIC GROWTH.

THAT'S ITSELF LANGUAGE HE USED DOO UNDERGRADUATE THAT TIME TO SAY THIS IS NOT A GOOD IDEA FOR FUTURE DEVELOPMENT OF SYRACUSE BUT WE WILL AGREE TO IT AS A COMPROMISE WHERE HE SHOULD PLACE THE VIADUCT.

>> IT WAS A PERFECT STORM.

YOU HAD HOUSING THAT DID NOT QUALIFY FOR THE FEDERAL HOUSING ACT.

YOU HAD A HIGHWAY, WHICH WAS GOING TO COME THROUGH THE CITY TO MAKE THINGS MORE DIFFICULT.

IT WAS THE ONLY AREA WHERE AFRICAN-AMERICANS AND SOME OF THOSE IN THE JOWSH JEWISH FAITH HAD THE ABILITY TO LIVE.

>> AS A RESULT OF THE FEDERAL HIGHWAY ADMINISTRATION PUTTING I-81 WAS 400 TO 500 HOMES DESTROYED.

ABOUT 100 BUSINESSES DESTROYED.

THERE WAS NO RELOCATIONAL PLAN FOR THE FIRST SIX YEARS OF CONSTRUCTION SO PEOPLE WERE DISPLACED AND PEOPLE HAD NOWHERE TO GO.

THERE WERE STILL COVENANTS AGAINST SELLING TO BLACK FOLK.

SO WHERE WERE THEY SUPPOSED TO IF THE ONLY NEIGHBORHOOD THEY COULD LIVE IN WAS BEING DESTROYED THROUGH URBAN RENEWAL AND THE HIGHWAY ADMINISTRATION.

>> IT DESTROYED, IT DESTRUCTED AND TOOK AWAY A LOT OF THE SMALL BLACK BUSINESSES THAT WERE THRIVING IN THE 15th WARD.

>> AND THE GOAL WAS TO REPLACE SUBSTANDARD HOUSING WITH MODERN HOUSING.

LOW, MIXED INCOME MIDDLE INCOME HOUSING, WHICH WAS, AND THAT'S WHAT ACTUALLY HAPPENED.

BUT IT LACKED THE COMMUNITY THAT EXISTED EVEN IN THESE AREAS THAT HAD SUBSTANDARD HOUSING.

WE REPLACED THE HOUSING BUT WE WERE NOT ABLE TO REPLACE THE COMMUNITY.

>> THE BLACK COMMUNITY, SENSE IT WAS IN A CONCENTRATED AREA, AND HAD YIELDED A LOT OF POWER ONE PERSON-ONE VOTE.

AND THERE WAS, YOU KNOW, EVEN BACK THEN, THERE WAS AN URGE TO BEGIN TO REGISTER AND TO VOTE AND TO EXERT POWER, YOU KNOW, THROUGH THE BLACK MOVEMENT.

THROUGH CIVIL RIGHTS.

SO IT WAS ONE WAY OF GETTING RID OF ALL OF THAT THREAT BY GETTING RID OF THE 15th WARD.

>> THESE ARE IMAGES OF A TIME GONE BY PARADES, FLAGS CARRIED THROUGH DOWNTOWN SYRACUSE.

AS YOU DRIVE THROUGH THE CITY NOW, THE FACTORIES THAT ONCE FUELED THE ECONOMY, FACTORIES LIKE SYRACUSE CHINA HAD A 1200 WORKERS.

LAST YEAR THE LAST OF THE JOBS WENT OVERSEAS.

>> SOME 350 CIVILIAN AIR BASE EMPLOYEES WILL BE WITHOUT WORK NEXT JUNE WHEN HANCOCK MOVES TO BECOME PART OF THE GRIFFITH AIR FORCE BASE IN ROME.

>> IT BECAME CLEAR THE BEST WAY TO STAY COMPETITIVE AND PROTECT THE THE BUSINESS FOR LONG-TERM IS TO MOVE PRODUCTION TO MONTEREY, MEXICO.

>> MORE AND MORE U.S. COMPANIES MOVED FACTORY JOBS OVERSEAS, PEOPLE WHO LACKED SKILLS AND EDUCATION HAD TROUBLE MAKING A DECENT LIVING.

WHILE THE CARRIER AIR CONDITIONING COMPANY SHUT DOWN ITS SYRACUSE NEW YORK PLANT IN 2004, 1200 JOBS WERE LOST.

>> THE TV STATION I WROTE TO WHEN I WAS 12 YERS OLD, MY PARENTS WOULD BRING ME HERE TO INTERN, GOT MY FIRST JOB HERE AND LOOK WHAT SITS OUT FRONT NOW.

NOTHING BUT A GIANT FOR SALE SIGN.

>> THE ECONOMIC DIVIDE HAPPENED WHEN THOSE COMPANIES LEFT AND NO LONGER-- WHEN THEY BENT OVERSEAS.

THAT'S WHERE WE STARTED TO SEE THE UNEMPLOYMENT.

THAT'S WHERE A LOT OF INDIVIDUALS THAT NORMALLY WOULD TRANSITION INTO THOSE JOBS AND BE PART OF THAT MIDDLE-CLASS, STARTED TO CHANGE.

>> THE CITY USED TO BE THE CENTER OF ALL ECONOMIC ACTIVITY AND NOW ALL OF THAT ECONOMIC ACTIVITY HAS MOVED TO THE AREAS OUTSIDE OF THE CITY.

SO THE CITY THEN IS LEFT WITH, YOU KNOW, WE HAD HOUSING FOR 220,000 PEOPLE.

WE HAVE 140,000 PEOPLE NOW.

SO ALL THOSE UNITS THAT WERE PROVIDING HOUSING, SOMETHING HAD TO HAPPEN TO THEM.

WHAT HAPPENED TO THEM?

WELL, MANY HAVE BEEN VACANT, VACATED, MANY HAVE BEEN DEMOLISHED AND WE STILL HAVE THIS PROBLEM OF THIS DISINVESTMENT IN NEIGHBORHOODS.

>> PEOPLE THAT COULD AFFORD TO MOVE DID.

AND PEOPLE WHO COULD NOT AFFORD TO MOVE ARE STILL THERE.

SO THAT'S CONCENTRATED POVERTY EVEN FURTHER BECAUSE IF YOU CAN'T MOVE FROM A HIGHWAY THAT IS NOW THREE FEET AWAY FROM YOUR APARTMENT.

AND WERE YOU THERE FIRST, YOU ARE KIND OF STUCK THERE.

WE SEE THIS GENERATIONAL WEALTH GAP FROM THE BENEFIT OF BEING ABLE TO TRAVEL TO THE SUBURBS AND NOW START BUILDING WEALTH BACK THEN TO THOSE WHICH WE CALL THE HAVE NOTS WHO COULD NOT MOVE AND ARE STUCK IN THIS GENERATIONAL POVERTY.

YOU MENTION A LOT THAT SYRACUSE WAS NEVER ONE FOR IMPOVERISHED BLACK FOLK.

WE DON'T MENTION IT'S FIFTH FOR WHITES IN THE NATION WHICH IS TELLING THAT TOGETHER WE RISE, DIVIDED WE FALL.

>> UNEMPLOYMENT IS REALLY THE KEY WHEN IT COMES TO POVERTY AND BECAUSE OF THE FACT OF POVERTY, PEOPLE HAVE TO FEED THEIR FAMILIES AND WHEN ONE DOESN'T HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO DO THAT, THEN YOU HAVE NOT ONLY AN UNDERGROUND ECONOMY, BUT YOU HAVE CRIME.

>> I THINK IF YOU LOOK AT AMERICAN CITIES ACROSS THE BOARD, THE CHALLENGE IS THAT WE FACE HERE ARE THE SAME AS THOSE CHALLENGES THAT ARE FACED WITH REGARD TO POLICE REFORM IN ALL OF THE OTHER CITIES.

AND THAT INCLUDES SUNBELT AS WELL AS RUST BELT.

THIS IS A NATIONAL ISSUE THAT FACES US EVERYWHERE.

THE MAJOR THING I THINK IN THE RUST BELT CITIES IS THE DOWNTURN IN THE ECONOMIC ACTIVITY.

WE'VE LOST THOUSANDS AND THOUSANDS OF JOBS IN ALL OF THESE CITIES, THAT WERE PROVIDING A DIVERSE ECONOMIC BASE.

THAT HAS NECESSITATED A CHANGE, I THINK, IN THE WAY THAT POLICING IS LOOKED AT.

>> HOW MANY DIFFERENT POLICE CHIEFS HAVE YOU WORKED WITH?

>> I THINK THE NUMBER WOULD BE 15 GIVE OR TAKE.

>> I FRANK L. FOWLER.

>> DO SOLEMNLY SWEAR.

>> IN 28 YEARS AS THE ELECTED DA I'VE ONLY NOT GOTTEN ALONG WITH ONE CHIEF, FRANK FOWLER AND I'M HAPPY TO EXPLORE THAT RELATIONSHIP WITH YOU AT LENGTH.

>> WHAT ARE MY OVERALL THOUGHTS ON THE DA?

I DON'T HAVE AN OPINION ON THE DA.

THE DISTRICT ATTORNEY IS AN ELECTED POSITION.

THE PEOPLE OF ONONDAGA COUNTY HAS ELECTED HIM AND THEY'RE THE ONES WHO HAVE SPOKEN.

I'M JUST ONE PERSON IN ONONDAGA COUNTY.

I CAST MY VOTE THE WAY THAT I FELT AND THE MAJORITY FELT DIFFERENTLY THAN I DID AND SO THAT'S IT.

>> EVEN IF YOU PERSONALLY DON'T LIKE THE MAN OR WOMAN, YOU BOTH HAVE JOBS TO DO AND YOU'LL GET IT DONE.

AND YOU CAN'T LET A DISAGREEMENT TURN INTO A LONG-TERM FEUD AS HAPPENED UNDER THE FOWLER-MINER ADMINISTRATION.

>> I SAW A RECRUITMENT TRAILER ON SALINA STREET AND FAYETTE STREET IN FRONT OF THE CHASE BANK.

AND I DECIDED TO STOP IN TO SEE IF WHAT IT WOULD TAKE TO SIGN UP FOR THE POLICE EXAM.

AND I TOOK THE TEST JUST TO CHALLENGE MYSELF TO SEE IF I WAS SMART ENOUGH TO PASS IT.

I HAD NO INTENTIONS OF BECOMING A POLICE OFFICER.

I SAID WHY NOT ME?

IF I DON'T GO THROUGH THIS PROCESS AND SEE IT THROUGH, THEN I WOULD FORFEIT ANY OPPORTUNITY I WOULD EVER HAVE TO COMPLAIN ABOUT ANYTHING THAT THE POLICE EVER DID BECAUSE I BELIEVE THAT EFFECTIVE CHANGE HAS TO START FROM WITHIN.

AND IF YOU ARE NOT GOING TO BE A PART OF SOMETHING TO EFFECT CHANGE, THEN SHUT YOUR MOUTH AND GO ON ABOUT YOUR BUSINESS.

SO I SAID ALL RIGHT, ILL GO THROUGH THIS PROCESS AND THEE HOW FAR I GET.

AND THEY HIRED ME AND THE REST, AS THEY SAY, IS HISTORY.

>> THE BIGGEST PROBLEM WAS OVERTIME AND IF YOU LOOK AT WHERE IS THE OVERTIME BEING SPENT?

IT'S NOT SPENT ON HOMICIDE VATION INVESTIGATIONS.

IT'S SPENT AT THE AIRPORT AND AT THE CARRIER DOME.

I HAVE BEEN GOING TO THE CARRIER DOME SINCE IT OPENED IN 1980.

I DON'T THINK I'VE EVER SEEN A FELONY COMMITTED AT THE CARRIER DOME.

>> THE POLICY AS IT RELATES TO OVERTIME IS THAT WE MONITOR THE OFFICES TO MAKE SURE THAT THEY WEREN'T WORKING OVER A CERTAIN AMOUNT OF HOURS DURING A 40-HOUR WORK WEEK.

MOST OF MY TIME AS CHIEF OF POLICE, MY STAFFING LEVEL WAS LOW AND I HAD TO UTILIZE OVERTIME TO AUGMENT THE STAFFING LEVELS OF THE POLICE DEPARTMENT.

SO OVERTIME IS A NECESSITY WHEN YOU ARE SHORT STAFFED.

>> THESE WERE THINGS THAT WERE DESIGNED TO ENHANCE ONE'S PENSION.

BECAUSE OF THE PENSION SCHEME, ESSENTIALLY INFLATING THE LAST THREE YEARS OF WORK, IT WAS ALWAYS, IF YOU WERE ONE OF THE IN CROWD AND IF YOU WERE ONE OF FOWLER OR THE GUYS, THAT WAS OKAY.

>> I THINK THAT I WAS ABLE TO ACCOMPLISH QUITE A FEW THINGS; STARTING IN YOU-- STARTING NEW PROGRAMS, ADDRESSING SPECIFIC CRIME PROBLEMS.

I LIKE TO THINK THAT, TO SOME DEGREE, I IMPROVED THE RELATIONSHIPS WITH THE POLICE IN THE COMMUNITY AND ESTABLISHING BUILDING BLOCKS FOR THE PERSON THAT WOULD REPLACE ME TO CONTINUE TO BUILD UPON.

>> I'M BEN WALSH AND I'M RUNNING FOR MAYOR.

AS MAYOR,LY CONTINUE TO REDEVELOP THE CITY, INVESTING IN THE COMMUNITY, CREATING JOBS, ADVANCING OUR SCHOOLS AND IMPROVING OUR NEIGHBORHOODS.

PLEASE HONOR ME WITH YOUR VOTE AND BE A PART OF WHAT WE ARE BUILDING.

>> I'LL TRY NOT TO STOP AND ROLL DOWN THE WINDOW ANYMORE.

THAT'S A BUSINESS HE PROPOSE TOKING PUT ON THE ACTUALLY RIGHT DOWN ON THE SOUTH SIDE WHERE WE JUST DROVE THROUGH AND JUST A GOOD LOCAL ENTREPRENEUR BUSINESSMAN DOING GOOD THINGS.

SO I GREW UP IN A FAMILY FULL OF PUBLIC SERVANTS.

SOME SAY POLITICIANS.

I CHOOSE TO SAY PUBLIC SERVANTS BECAUSE WHILE SOME OF MY FAMILY MEMBERS HAVE HELD ELECTED OFFICE, THE COMMON THEME THROUGHOUT MY FAMILY IS ALWAYS TRYING TO GIVE BACK TO THE COMMUNITY TO DO GOOD.

FOR MY FATHER, THAT WAS, FOR MUCH OF THE TIME, HOLDING ELECTED OFFICE.

HE STARTED IN THE SYRACUSE COMMON COUNCIL 3rd DISTRICT AND ENDED UP AS COMMON COUNCIL PRESIDENT AND ULTIMATELY ENDED UP IN CONGRESS FOR 20 YEARS.

HIS FATHER SERVED AS MAYOR OF THE CITY OF SYRACUSE BACK IN THE 60s.

AND ALSO A SHORT TIME IN CONGRESS.

SO THOSE TWO CERTAINLY CHOSE POLITICS FOR THEIR PUBLIC SERVICE BUT GOING THROUGHOUT THE REST OF MY FAMILY, MY MOTHER WAS A TEACHER.

I HAVE AUNTS AND UNCLES WHO ARE JUDGES, SOCIAL WORKERS, HOSPITAL WORKERS.

SO IT'S IN MY DNA.

IT'S IN MY BLOOD.

>> I DON'T THINK-- I DON'T KNOW IF HE THOUGHT HE WOULD GET THE SUPPORT HE ENDED UP WITH IN THE BEGINNING.

>> HE DIDN'T.

>> I REMEMBER GOING TO THE NAACP DINNER AND BEN WAS THERE AND ALMOST NOBODY WANTED TO SIT WITH HIM.

AND AT THE END OF THE NIGHT HE WALKED OVER AND WAS LIKE TIM, WOULD YOU MIND TAKING A PICTURE FOR ME.

HE STOOD AND TOOK A PICTURE.

HE DIDN'T PUSH ANYTHING.

I THINK PEOPLE-- THERE IS AN APPEAL OF THAT SOMEBODY WHO IS GOING GOING TO COME IN AND LISTEN.

>> WHAT DOES HE HAVE TO DO TO SHOW HE IS NOT A REPUBLICAN IN SHEEP'S CLOTHING AND I CAN LIVE UP TO THESE PROGRESSIVE IDEALS THAT A LOT OF PEOPLE ARE EXPECTING ME TO HAVE?

>> YEAH THAT'S A BIG ONE.

IF HE CAN REVERSE THE TRENDS SO WE ARE OFF THE LIST OF MOST SEGREGATED CITIES IN AMERICA, YOU KNOW, HE WILL BE A PROGRESSIVE CHAMPION FOR US.

>> LET'S GIVE IT UP FOR THE 54th MAYOR OF SYRACUSE, BEN WALSH!

[CHEERS AND APPLAUSE] >> PEOPLE OF SYRACUSE HAVE SPOKEN CLEARLY THAT THEY'RE NOT WILLING TO WAIT ANY LONGER FOR THE CHANGE, PROGRESS AND OPPORTUNITY THEY DESERVE!

[ CHEERING ] >> P PUBLIC SAFETY ISN'T THE SOLE RESPONSIBILITY OF THE POLICE DEPARTMENT.

THE PLRMT PLAYS A CRITICAL ROLE IN IT.

I WANT EVERYBODY CITIZEN IN THE CITY OF CUSE, EVERY RESIDENT OF THE CITY OF SYRACUSE TO FEEL THAT THE PRESENCE OF THE POLICE DEPARTMENT MAKES THEM FEEL SAFER.

IF PEOPLE FEEL SAFE, THEY CAN MAKE OTHER DECISIONS AS IT RELATES TO THEIR LIVES AND THERE WELL-BEING.

BUT AT A FUNDAMENTAL LEVEL, I WANT PEOPLE TO FEEL THAT THE POLICE DEPARTMENT MAKES THEM SAFER.

>> JAMES SPRINGER, III SUFFERED FROM A GUNSHOT WOUND WOUND IN THE ABDOMEN.

HE DIED FROM HIS INJURIES A SHORT TIME LATER JUST SHY OF 3:00 A.M.

THIS MORNING.

>> I ASKED EVERYONE TO TAKE A DEEP BREATH AND LET'S STRATEGICALLY COME TOGETHER AND FIGURE OUT WHAT WE ARE GOING TO DO.

>> THIS IS YET ANOTHER EXAMPLE OF THE FACT THAT ENOUGH IS ENOUGH.

ONE ADDITIONAL HOMICIDE IS ONE TOO MANY MORE.

SO I HIT THE TIPPING POINT A LONG TIME AGO AND I THINK THE COMMUNITY HAS AS WELL.

>> WALSH ALSO ANNOUNCED HE IS HOLDING A NATIONWIDE SEARCH FOR THE CITY'S NEXT POLICE CHIEF.

>> WE ARE LOOKING FOR SOMEONE WHO UNDERSTANDS POLICEING IN A DIVERSE COMMUNITY, URBAN SETTING IS CRITICAL.

>> THE CANDIDATES LIST IS NOW DOWN FROM SIX TO THREE INCLUDING A FAMILIAR FACE.

FIRST DEPUTY POLICE CHIEF JOE CECIL MADE THE CUT.

A 33-YEAR VETERAN WITH SPD AND CHIEF FOWLER'S FAVORITE.

UNDER CONSIDERATION IS THE CHIEF OF THE DURANGO COLORADO POLICE DEPARTMENT.

HE HAS BEEN CHIEF THERE SINCE APRIL 21.

AND ON THE POLICE AS WELL, KENTON BUCKNER.

HE HAS BEEN IN CHARGE OF THE LARK ARC SAW POLICE DEPARTMENT SINCE JUNE OF 2014.

SYRACUSE DEPUTY MAYOR SHARON OWENS LEADING THE SEARCH CALLS THE TRIO HIGHLY QUALIFIED.

>> WHEN I SET OUT TO MAKE A DECISION ON WHO I WANTED TO BE THE CHIEF OF THE POLICE DEPARTMENT, I HAD ONE SINGULAR GOAL, WHICH WAS TO FIND THE BEST PERSON FOR THAT JOB I HAD THE BENEFIT OF SITTING A SITTING CHIEF IN CHIEF FOWLER WHO WAS WILLING TO CONTINUE TO SERVE BUT THAT GAVE ME SOME TIME.

AND WITH THAT TIME I CHOSE TO CAST AS WIDE A NET AS POSSIBLE TO MAKE SURE THAT I ANSWERED THAT BASIC QUESTION.

WHO IS THE BEST PERSON TO FILL THAT JOB.

ULTIMATELY I DETERMINED THAT WAS KENTON BUCKNER.

>> (INAUDIBLE) I'M VERY THANKFUL FOR THE CITY OF SYRACUSE SELECTING ME.

[ APPLAUSE ] >> ROUNDTABLE MEETING FOCUSING ON REORKING THE DEPARTMENT, HE MENTION THERE HAD WERE BAD OFFICERS IN THE DEPARTMENT.

>> MY JOB IS TO MAKE SURE THAT I PROTECT MY 90-95% OFFICERS FROM THE APPLES THAT SHOULD NOT BE IN THAT BARREL AND THERE ARE SOME PEOPLE WHO ARE ROTTEN TO THE CORE THAT WE ARE GOING SAY, YOU KNOW WHAT, YOU CAN'T WEAR OUR UNIFORM AND BADGE ANYMORE.

>> A BIG CROWD LINING THE STREETS TO WATCH THE PARADE BUT WALKING ALONG THE GREEN PAINTED ROAD, A MUCH SMALLER GROUP REPRESENTING SYRACUSE POLICE.

ONLY AROUND 20 OFFICERS MARCHED THIS YEAR, A MUCH DIFFERENT NUMBER FROM THE CLOSE TO 100 IN THE PAST.

CHIEF KENTON BUCKNER BLAMES THE LACK OF INTEREST ON INTERNAL ISSUES AND SAYS IT DIDN'T COME AS A SURPRISE.

THERE HAS BEEN A LACK OF SUPPORT FOR THE NEW CHIEF BY SOME OFFICERS EXPRESSING THEY FEEL DISRESPECTED BY HIM.

>> WE ARE GAINING SOME INSIGHT ABOUT CHIEF KENTON BUCKNER'S MANAGEMENT STYLE AND WHAT MIGHT BE GOING ON BEHIND CLOSE THE DOORS BY LOOKING AT HIS HISTORY AS CHIEF IN LARK LITTLE ROCK ARC SAW.

HE ADMITTED MANY TIMES THAT HE SAID THINGS THAT GOT UNDER PEOPLE'S SKIN.

>> I'M KENTON BUCKNER, THE CHIEF OF POLICE FOR THE CITY OF SYRACUSE.