City Council News Release - Police Accountability Board Names Conor Dwyer Reynolds as Executive Director

For Immediate Release: 

Friday, October 16, 2020

Police Accountability Board Names Conor Dwyer Reynolds as Executive Director

 

Today, the Police Accountability Board (PAB) gathered outside of City Hall to announce their unanimous selection of Conor Dwyer Reynolds as their first Executive Director. The PAB launched an exhaustive search for an executive Director starting early this year and attracting over 150 candidates. As Executive Director, Conor will be responsible for working with the PAB to identify necessary trainings for members and staff, conduct community outreach, develop and administer a process for complaints, and hire additional staff.

 

Conor was born in the city of Rochester and graduated from the University of Rochester. Working for President Obama, Conor helped craft communications strategies at the White House and on the President’s re-election campaign. After helping organize get-out-the-vote efforts in Iowa and consulting on state and local political campaigns, Conor attended law school, and helped fight polluters and sue banks trying to foreclose on homeowners. After graduating, Conor clerked for the Honorable Carlton W. Reeves in federal court in Mississippi, helping manage cases involving police misconduct and discrimination against police officers. In his most recent position teaching law at Yale, Conor led the restructuring of the school’s Environmental Protection Clinic and partnered with Rochester’s City Roots Community Land Trust to address racism in Monroe County.

 

“After an extensive search, that showcased significant talent, my colleagues and I unanimously selected Conor Dwyer Reynolds to lead us as the inaugural Executive Director of the Police Accountability Board,” announced Shani Wilson, Board Chair.  “We are very excited to share this news. During our search for our Executive Director, Conor stood out as singularly prepared and skilled to step into this position.”

 

Shani continued, “His leadership background in law, research, and teaching, in addition to his experience getting new ventures off of the ground highlight critical skill sets. This combined with his passion for social justice, his proven ability to work with individuals and communities across lines of race, gender, ability, and socio-economic condition, and his commitment to our particular work, makes him a candidate unlike any other. Conor comes highly and enthusiastically recommended from staff who have reported to him, colleagues and community advocates who have worked alongside him, and those who have hired him to work for them.  His selection is a milestone in our establishment of the Rochester Police Accountability Board as a national leader in reimagining public safety. I believe that with Conor's leadership, we will be able to do just that.” 

 

“I’m looking forward to working with the Board to execute their vision of reimagining public safety in partnership with this community,” Conor expressed. “If given time and the right financial resources, there is no question that the Board has the expertise and power to help create an accountable public safety system — a system that reflects the priorities of all our people, including Black and Brown people, women, people with disabilities, unhoused people, people who disproportionately face poverty, police officers, and our LGBTQ community, especially our Black trans community that constantly suffers exclusion and violence.”

 

Conor will officially begin his service as Executive Director on Monday, October 19, 2020. However, his position will require a confirmation hearing from the Rochester City Council.  The City Council will work with Conor to schedule a hearing prior to the next City Council Meeting, so that legislation confirming his appointment may be voted on at the November 10, 2020 meeting.

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Media Contact:  Beth Sieber, Elizabeth.Sieber@CityofRochester.gov