Rochester Mayor Lovely Warren on Friday named a new police chief, and the name should be a familiar one. It's the man who Warren named as Interim Chief this year, Mike Ciminelli. Ciminelli was appointed as interim chief after Chief Jim Sheppard retired last year.
Ciminelli has more than 35 years experience in law enforcement including 17 with the Rochester Police Department. He served as Deputy Chief of Administration before being named Interim Chief.
Warren credits Ciminelli with leading a department that has already solved a number of murders since the beginning of the year.
She says Ciminelli grew up in the 19th ward, and is very familiar with the challenges facing the city. Friday was the deadline for applicants for the police chief's position.
Warren wants the city police department to move back to a system of having four or five sections covering different parts of the city, which she feels would increase police visibility and interaction with the community.
City Council still has to approve the appointment.
