Posted at: 09/25/2009 10:45 AM | WHEC.com
Updated at: 09/25/2009 7:22 PM
By: Lynette Adams

Anti-violence program gets national attention

It started as just a slogan. Now it's a program that's caught the attention of the federal government.

The anti-crime initiative "You Bet I Told" is changing its name to "Rise Up Rochester" and it's being recognized nationally by the justice department.

The billboards have been taken down around town to reflect the new name.

John Kohut has been in business for 30 years on Hudson Avenue. He's witnessed criminal activity and has been the victim of it. He says it continues because people accept it and won't snitch on the criminals.

"A lot of people don't want to come forward," says Kohout. "It's their neighbors that are doing it and they don't want to turn their neighbors in."

But "You Bet I Told" is aimed at changing that. That message has been delivered primarily through billboards. The feds recognize this as one of 8 programs nationwide addressing the "no snitching" mentality.

"Through those billboards, families have called and said, I'm scared," says Rochester Pastor Marlowe Washington. The "You Bet I Told" movement started at Marlowe's church, Baber AME church.

Pastor Washington says it has now grown into a part-time program with it's own office, and is in the process of merging with family and friends of murdered children.

He says there are no statistics yet, but he thinks the program is working.

"The phone rings literally everyday. Our office is open from Monday through Friday, 9 to 2, during that time and even after the phone rings."

Washington is challenging other churches to join this effort and make it citywide. That would please Rochester Mayor Bob Duffy.

"The program is an excellent one. It hits at the heart of something that's important," says Duffy. I certainly applaud Pastor Marlowe and his team. He works with all of us on this, everybody works collaboratively. It's a good thing and hopefully it will make even more inroads in the coming years."

Pastor Washington says the program has helped in at least one conviction since it started in January 2008.

If you have a crime tip you can call "Rise Up Rochester" anonymously at 454-3060. The office located at 244 South Plymouth Avenue in Rochester.

For more Rochester, N.Y. news, go to www.whec.com.