Skip to main content

Executive Order 203: New York State Police Reform and Reinvention Collaborative

What is Executive Order 203?

On June 12, 2020, Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo signed Executive Order 203, requiring each local government in N.Y. State to adopt a policing reform plan that will maintain public safety while building mutual trust and respect between police and the communities they serve.

Read the Plan Approved by City Council

On Feb. 4, 2021, members of the Executive Order 203 working group released their first draft response document for review and public input.  The public comment period closed March 4.

On March 12, 2021, the draft response document was submitted to City Council for their review and approval. 

On March 29, 2021, City Council voted to approve the City's plan.

The recommendations in the report follow the path of the past successes in moving towards needed reforms.

  • Approved Plan (minus appendices)
  • Appendix A - List of Public Engagement Activities 
  • Appendix B - Rochester Police Department Violence Reduction Plan  
  • Appendix C - Reports Provided by the Police Accountability Board (PAB)
  • Appendix D - Reports Provided by the United Christian Leadership Ministry (UCLM)
  • Appendix E -  Report from the RASE Commission Police Working Group
  • Appendix F - New Policing Blueprint Proposal from the Pastor's Roundtable 
  • Appendix G - Comments Received on the February 4, 2021 Initial Draft Proposal
  • Appendix H - Monroe County Public Defender’s Office, Executive Order 203 Report, March 1, 2021
  • Appendix I - Monroe County Alliance for the Transformation of Community & Police, Police Reform Report, February 2021
  • Appendix J - Telephone Town Hall Meeting Report
  • Appendix K - Selected Studies, Reports and Relevant Policies from WilmerHale

Background

In response to growing social unrest occurring across the country, on June 12, 2020, Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo signed Executive Order 203 requiring each local government in N.Y. State to adopt a policing reform plan that will maintain public safety while building mutual trust and respect between police and the communities they serve. 

On August 17 2020, Governor Andrew M. Cuomo provided additional guidance for the New York State Police Reform and Reinvention Collaborative, which was established by the Governor's Executive Order. This guidance provided a framework and topics for consideration by local police departments, elected officials and citizens as they develop their local plans for reform. Per the Governor's Executive Order, every locality must adopt a plan for reform by April 1, 2021 to be eligible for future state funding.

Read the Governor’s August 17 letter that was sent to 500 jurisdictions with police departments across N.Y. State.

Mayor Lovely A. Warren convened a working group consisting of members of City staff, City Council, the Commission on Racial and Structural Equity (RASE), the United Christian Leadership Ministry (UCLM) and the Police Accountability Board (PAB) to work as a team to guide the preparation of the City’s plan for Executive Order 203.

A summary of the Governor’s Executive Order was prepared and the working group met on October 20, 2020 to review the summary and discuss a timeline for completing the City’s plan. Read the minutes of that meeting.

The police reform and collaborative working group met again on November 2, 2020. Read the minutes of that meeting.

Public Input

The period for public input on the above draft report closed on March 4, 2021. The Final Draft Recommendation was submitted to City Council on March 12, 2021 for review and adoption.