City of Rochester
News Release
(Friday, February 12, 2010) – Rochester Mayor Robert J. Duffy today announced the appointment of James M. Sheppard as the City’s new Director of the Office of Public Integrity (OPI) effective March 1, 2010. Sheppard will be only the second Director of OPI, replacing Richard Vega, who recently retired. Sheppard served with distinction for 27 years in the Rochester Police Department, rising to the number two position in the RPD as of Deputy Chief of Operations before retiring in 2008. Most recently, Sheppard served as the Director of Safety and Security for the Rochester City School District.
“I cannot be more thrilled to welcome Chief Sheppard back to City government,” said Mayor Duffy. “I have known Jim since 1981 and we could not have a better person to take over leadership of OPI from Rich Vega, than a man of Jim’s caliber, integrity, experience, and character.”
“It is an honor and privilege to rejoin Mayor Duffy and his team,” said Sheppard. “I look forward to serving the citizens of Rochester as well as City employees. “It is especially an honor to follow in the footsteps of Rich Vega. Rich was my counselor when I first entered the Rochester Police Department and had a lasting influence on my entire career.”
“Jim Sheppard is a career public safety professional and public servant,” continued Mayor Duffy. “He worked his way up the ranks of the RPD to the number two position before retiring. He brings a breadth of experience and integrity to this position. I am certain he will do an outstanding job to protect the interests of city taxpayers by rooting out inappropriate actions and behavior by anyone in City government.”
Mayor Duffy will formally announce Director Sheppard at a press conference next week. Details of the position, including salary, will be made available then.
Sheppard, 54, resides in the city with his wife June and two daughters.
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For more information contact Gary Walker at City Communications at 428-7405.