About the Rochester Police Department

The roots of the Rochester Police Department can be traced back to March 21, 1817, when a growing mill town carved out of the western New York forests became the village of Rochesterville.  The charter of this new village allowed for a constable. The first night watch was decided upon on December 28, 1819, thus making the birth of the Rochester Police Department.

Stimulated by the Erie Canal and the railroad, Rochesterville continued to grow. In 1834, it was incorporated as the City of Rochester. The year 1853 marked the hiring of the first Police Chief, Addy Van Slyck, whose salary was $900 per year. Rochester became a leader in law enforcement and technology. By the end of the Civil War in 1865, the night watchmen and constables were reorganized into the "Metropolitan Police". Chief Joseph Cleary introduced telegrahic "call boxes" in the 1880's, which were later replaced with telephones. Mounted and bicycle patrols were added in the next decade; the Betrillon System of identification was adopted in 1903; and formal recruiting began in 1904. 

Police cars and motorcycles were introduced in the 1920's, along with traffic signals and traffic tickets. Mobile police radios were acquired in 1931, traffic radar in 1952, and the Police Academy opened its doors in 1953. Police officers were hired through political appointment until New York State enacted the Civil Service Law in 1900. After that point, the professionalism of the service increased, as officers were selected and promoted through competitive examination and received increased job security and retirement benefits. The first female officer, Nellie McElroy, was hired in 1913, becoming only the ninth policewoman in the nation.

Today, the Rochester Police Department serves a community of approximately 230,000 people and an area of over 35 square miles. Chief Robert J. Duffy leads an agency of over 850 sworn and non-sworn employees, who are dedicated to fair and impartial enforcement of the law and improving the quality of life for the citizens of Rochester.

Source:

ci.rochester.ny.us/PublicSafety

/Police/index.cfm?id=347

Lou Campanozzi was born and raised in Rochester, New York. As a young man he joined the Rochester Police department and for 22 years he commanded the homicide and robbery squad, worked undercover narcotics, and eventually became the city’s District Commander. He was one of the three founders of BowMac Educational Services, a police training consulting firm formed in 1980. The company was designed to teach police officers how to properly interrogate criminal suspects. Lou’s techniques were adapted by police officers around the country and resulted in thousands of criminal convictions.

After retiring as a Captain from the Rochester Police Department, Lou relocated to Albuquerque, New Mexico. While in Albuquerque he worked with the New Mexico State Police and continued to educate police officers throughout the country. He also assumed the position of Chief of Police for the Sandia Indian Reservation in Albuquerque, New Mexico. Prior to his death in October 2002, Lou completed three books in the Mike Amato Detective Series: Killing Cards, Ground Lions and his final work, Justice.