| Rochester Police Department | |
| Abbreviation | RPD |
| Patch of the Rochester Police Department. | |
| Motto | Serving With Pride |
| Agency overview | |
|---|---|
| Formed | December 28, 1819[1] |
| Preceding agency | Metropolitan Police[1] |
| Annual budget | US$ 76.065 Million (2009–2010)[2]:12-3 |
| Legal personality | Governmental: Government agency |
| Jurisdictional structure | |
| Operations jurisdiction* | City of Rochester in the state of New York, USA |
| Map of Rochester Police Department's jurisdiction. | |
| Size | 37 square miles (96 km2) |
| Population | 230,000 |
| Legal jurisdiction | As per operations jurisdiction. |
| Primary governing body | Mayor of Rochester, New York |
| Secondary governing body | Rochester City Council |
| General nature | |
| Operational structure | |
| Headquarters | 185 Exchange Boulevard, Rochester |
| Police Officers | 741 (2009–2010)[2]:12-4 |
| Unsworn members | 154.5 (2009–2010)[2]:12-4 |
| Agency executive | James M. Sheppard, Chief of Department |
| Units | Patrol Division East Patrol Division West Special Operations Division |
| Facilities | |
| Stations | Headquarters Patrol Division East Patrol Division West Animal Control Center Special Operations Division |
| Website | |
| www.cityofrochester.gov/police | |
| Footnotes | |
| * Divisional agency: Division of the country, over which the agency has usual operational jurisdiction. | |
The Rochester Police Department, also known as the RPD, is the principal law enforcement agency of the city of Rochester, New York, reporting to the city mayor. It currently has approximately 850 officers and support staff, a budget of approximately $75 million, and covers an area of 37 square miles (96 km2).
Contents |
Rochester hired a constable and formed a nightwatch, which first went active on December 28, 1819. Addy Van Slyck was hired as the first police chief in 1853. The police department was reorganized into the Metropolitan Police in 1865.[1]
RPD was the first department in New York State to adopt a police telegraph system in 1886.[3]:64
In 1893, the department established a bicycle division consisting of two officers who apprehended a daily average of 25 "scorchers" (speeders).[3]:54 The department fielded a mounted division in 1895—officers were expected to supply their own horses.[3]:66
In 1905, the department added a traffic bureau consisting of officers stationed at busy Main Street intersections (East Avenue, St. Paul Street, State Street, and Fitzhugh Street).[3]:68 The chief traffic offenders of the time were haywagons. The city installed traffic lights in 1922.
The department's first policewoman, Nellie L. McElroy, was also the first to be appointed under civil service rules in New York State.[3]:62 The department's first African-American officer, Charles Price, was hired in 1947.[4]
Since the establishment of the Rochester Police Department, 14 officers have died in the line of duty.[5]
| Name | Tenure | Name | Tenure | Name | Tenure | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Addy W. Van Slyck | 1853 | Alexander McLean | 1873–1885 | Thomas F. Hastings | 1974–1981 | ||
| George I. Marsh | 1854 | Joseph P. Cleary | May 28, 1885 – March 1, 1905 | Delmar E. Leach | 1981–1985 | ||
| Samuel N. Sherman | 1855 | John C. Hayden | March 1, 1905 – December 31, 1908 | Gordon F. Urlacher | 1985 – October 18, 1991 | ||
| Elisha J. Keeney | 1856 | Joseph M. Quigley | January 1, 1909 – September 13, 1927 | Roy A. Irving | 1991–1993 | ||
| W.D. Oviatt | 1857 | Andrew J. Kavanaugh | October 16, 1927–1934 | Thomas L. Conroy | January 3, 1994 – May 31, 1994 (interim) | ||
| Seth Simmons | 1858 | Henry T. Copenhagen | 1934–1949 | Robert S. Warshaw | June 1, 1994 – March, 1998 | ||
| Elisha J. Keeney | 1859 | T. Herbert Killip | 1950–1953 | Robert J. Duffy | March 23, 1998 – March 31, 2005 | ||
| Matthew G. Warner | 1860 | William A. Winfield | 1954–1962 | Cedric L. Alexander | April 1, 2005 – December 31, 2005 (interim) | ||
| William Charles | 1861 | William F. Lombard | 1963–1970 | Timothy C. Hickey | January 1, 2006 – April 9, 2006 (interim) | ||
| William Mudgett | 1862–1863 | John A. Mastrella | 1970–1972 | David T. Moore | April 10, 2006 – November 10, 2010 | ||
| Robert R. Harris | 1864 | Joseph Cavoti | November 1972 – November 1973 | James M. Sheppard | November 11, 2010 – December 9, 2010 (acting) December 10, 2010 – present |
||
| Samuel M. Sherman | 1865–1873 | Joseph E. Battaglia | 1973–1974 |
The department uses the following ranks:
The department is organized into two bureaus: Operations and Administration.
The Operations Bureau consists of three divisions:[6]
The Patrol Divisions primarily conduct foot, bicycle, and vehicle patrols and respond to emergency calls, apprehending suspects and conducting preliminary and follow-up investigation of offenses. They are also work closely with Police and Citizens Together Against Crime Program (PAC-TAC) participants and Police-Citizen Interaction Committees (PCIC) and participate in the City's four Neighborhood and Business Development (NBD) teams. The East division handles police services east of the Genesee River with the exception of the City's Inner Loop. Police services west of the River and within the Inner Loop are provided by the West division.
The Special Operations Division is considerably more specialized, consisting of:[7]
The Administration Bureau comprises:
The Department's headquarters are in the Public Safety Building at 185 Exchange Boulevard. The Patrol Divisions are located at 630 North Clinton Avenue and 1099 Jay Street. The Animal Control Center is at 184 Verona Street. The Special Operations Division is at 261 Child Street.
Officers of the Rochester Police Department will be issued the Beretta Px4 Storm in .45 ACP caliber as a service pistol, replacing the Beretta Cougar.[8]