PROVIDENCE — The Police Department held a roll call for an afternoon shift change in front of Hope High School at dismissal yesterday, part of an effort to increase police visibility in the community.

Chief Dean Esserman said that the department began holding roll calls in neighborhoods last spring and the public response was so positive that he decided to continue them this year. The department has held at least three outdoor roll calls during the past 10 days, including one at Mount Pleasant High School on Wednesday.

“The rationale is nothing more than to increase our visibility in the community,” Esserman said, “and to send a message that we are here.”

Last year, a roll call was held in front of the Davy Lopes Recreation Center in South Providence. High schools are a natural choice as a roll call site because they are places where large numbers people congregate, according to Maj. Paul C. Fitzgerald, head of the patrol bureau. The commanders of the police districts decide when and where to stage the roll calls.

lborg@projo.com