UTICA - For the past four weeks, four Utica Police Officers that normally work in the school, rotated patrols to help clean up loitering and traffic violations around Proctor High School. Police issued more than 80 tickets, and made more than a dozen arrests.

"That doesn't count the hundreds of warnings that were given out," Public Safety Commissioner Phil Taurisano said.

Officers made the warnings after pulling over cars or breaking up fights. The Public Safety Commissioner credits a successful program to the officers behind it.

"For example, one of our officers went along and picked up papers and saw some papers," Taurisano said. "He picked them up himself. People called and commended me for it and he is leading by example."

Taurisano said he has received about a dozen phone calls from satisfied neighbors hoping to see the program again in the future. The Public Safety Commissioner said he would love to stay behind it, but knows a new mayor is taking over office, and says he may not be around to spearhead it.

"I don't know if I am in their plans," Taurisano said. "If I am not, I will sit down with them prior to leaving this post and do anything I could to help them decide what to do or what not to do."

RELATED STORIES:

*Increased police force shows improvement near Proctor High School