City of Rochester
News Release
(Saturday, Sept. 26. 2020) – Mayor Lovely A. Warren today announced the appointment of Cynthia Herriott-Sullivan as the new Interim Chief of the Rochester Police Department (RPD). Herriott-Sullivan, a former RPD Lieutenant who continuously rose through the Department’s ranks until her retirement in 2009, will be the first female to hold the Police Chief’s position in the history of the Rochester Police Department. She will assume her new role effective October 14, 2020.
“I am extremely pleased to announce my selection of Cynthia Herriott-Sullivan as the City’s Interim Police Chief,” said Mayor Lovely Warren. “As a former RPD Officer who served with distinction for many years, I am convinced that Ms. Herriott-Sullivan is the perfect person to fill this position at this particular time. She brings a wealth of experience and knowledge to the job, and through her previous service, has proven that she cares deeply for the well-being of our community and our citizens. As the first woman to serve in this role, I am confident she will bring a different perspective and instill a fresh approach to policing, which are very much needed in our city at this particular time.”
Herriott-Sullivan has been employed at Rochester Housing Authority (RHA) since 2016, originally working in the areas of compliance, diversity, inclusion and public safety. She currently serves as RHA’s Interim Deputy Executive Director, a position she has held since April 2019.
Prior to joining the staff at RHA, Herriott-Sullivan held a number of positions, including Chief Operating Officer at Seamless Communications Group, Chief Executive Officer at Rise Up Rochester, and Management Consultant at both CHS Project Management, where she served as a Criminal Justice Process Improvement professional, and Community Oriented Correctional Health Services in Bethesda, Maryland, where she evaluated various state policies to facilitate the effective management of criminal justice-involved populations. In addition, she was also the Deputy Director of the National Drug Court Institute in Alexandria, Va. from 2010 – 2012.
Ms. Herriott-Sullivan holds a B.A. degree in Organizational Management from Roberts Wesleyan College, a M.S. degree in Criminal Justice Administration from Keuka College, as well as a host of professional certifications and professional memberships.
During today’s announcement, Ms. Herriott-Sullivan expressed her commitment to Rochester and her desire to work with others to improve police/community relations.
“I love this city,” she stated. “I was born and raised in Rochester and am the proud daughter of Henry and Rosanna Herriott. I am a woman of faith who believes strongly in problem-solving that involves developing sustainable solutions through collaborations and partnerships. These are difficult times for the city of Rochester, and other communities as well. I will do my best to put my experience and commitment to good use in helping Rochester move forward. We will all need to bring our best to the table. Let's work together and get it done.”
In addition to selecting a new Interim Chief of Police, Mayor Warren also announced the appointment of two new members to the RPD Command Staff.
RPD Captain Gabriel Person has been promoted to Deputy Chief of Operations. Captain Person joined the Rochester Police Department in 2005 and currently serves as Staff Duty Officer, 3rd Platoon.
He began his career as a Field Training Officer, and after achieving the rank of Lieutenant, commanded platoons in both Genesee and Goodman sections. He was promoted to Captain in November 2019.
In his current role, Captain Person assumes supervision responsibilities when command staff is unavailable, including command of critical incidents and major crime scenes, along with deployment of personnel and resources.
Captain Person is also a veteran, having served for eight years in the United States Army Reserves.
“Realizing that we are at a pivotal moment in the city’s history, I am very proud to be a part of this organization,” said Capt. Person regarding his appointment. “Furthermore, I look forward to working with all members of the community to work toward a better future for the City of Rochester.”
Additionally, RPD Officer Moses Robinson will serve as part of the Department’s Command Staff. Officer Robinson will be promoted to a position in the Chief’s office to work in Community Engagement and Violence Reduction as part of a team that is currently being assembled.
Officer Robinson has been a member of the Rochester Police Department since 1985. He currently works as a Crime Prevention Officer in the Community Affairs Bureau, a position he has held for the past two and a half years. Prior to that, he worked as a School Resource Officer in the Rochester City School District.
Officer Robinson is extremely well known and respected throughout the Rochester community. His ability to relate to residents, especially youth, will play a critical role in fostering better relations between police and residents, as well as in seeking solutions to put an end to violence in our community.
“It’s time for our community to heal,” said Officer Robinson. “And we can heal through restorative justice, law enforcement reform and by bridging the gaps that exist. I look forward to working with our community partners to help make this happen.”
The newly appointed members of the Command Staff will take on their new responsibilities no later than October 14, 2020.
# # #News Media: For more information, contact Jessica Alaimo at
Jessica.Alaimo@cityofrochester.gov or (585) 428-7135.