The City of Rochester, in collaboration with the United Christian Leadership Ministry of Western NY Inc., led by Reverend Lewis W. Stewart III, is currently recruiting volunteers to serve on the Civilian Public Safety Interview Panel. This is in accordance with NYS Executive Order 203 Police Reform and Reinvention Collaborative and the City of Rochester’s community response. This initiative is to increase community engagement in the City of Rochester's hiring process for prospective police officers. There will be a pool of 9-12 trained interview panelists who will then serve on 3-person panels to interview police candidates.
Individuals selected to serve on the panel will be responsible for interviewing candidates and sharing their recommendations with the Command Staff and Chief of the Rochester Police Department. During the interview process, panel members will learn from prospective police officers their views on contemporary policing, culture and race, and familiarity with the Rochester community among other topics of importance to the community.
The City of Rochester believes that more engagement with the community in the hiring process will aid in the selection of the best candidates. Interested civilian community members are being sought to serve on this interview panel. The minimum requirements to serve on the interview panel are as follows:
- Be a resident of the City of Rochester
- Be at least 21 years of age
- Possess a minimum of a High School Diploma or GED
- Pass a Criminal Background Check
- Agree to serve at least two (2) years
- Attend a or plan on attending the Citizens Police Academy
- Attend the Civilian Public Safety Interview Panel training
- Be available during business hours to conduct candidate interviews
Please feel free to share this information with any community member that might be interested in serving. Applications are received on an ongoing basis.
For additional information or an application to serve, please email hr@cityofrochester.gov or call 585-428-7115.