The Police Accountability Board’s executive director and leadership team briefed the council on a reorganization and short‑term pivot following a court ruling that limited the board’s investigatory authority. Director Leslie Myers Small thanked staff and described a shift to policy, transparency and trend analysis while the city pursues an appeal.

What changed and why

- Legal backdrop and immediate response: Myers Small acknowledged the recent court ruling and said the city has filed an appeal. While that process proceeds, the PAB imposed a hiring freeze within the division formerly called Investigations and is reorganizing the group as an Accountability and Transparency unit. Myers Small said the move preserves institutional readiness so the board can resume investigatory work if the appeal is successful.

- Intake of complaints and systemic oversight: The PAB will continue to accept complaints from residents but will change how those complaints are handled. Rather than case‑level investigations that would name and discipline individuals, the board will analyze complaint data for patterns and trends (for example by ZIP code, race/ethnicity or complaint type) and use those results to recommend policy and practice changes to the Rochester Police Department. Director Dijon Hall said the board will expand “policy and oversight” products—systemic issue reports and one‑page policy briefings—and incorporate performance indicators tied to the board’s strategic agenda.

- Organizational restructuring: The board has eliminated the former case‑management director role and shifted staff into outreach, policy, case‑support and accountability roles. Myers Small said the board had been strengthening community engagement and expects to continue more than 130 outreach sessions a year.

- Strategic plan and KPIs: The PAB said it will finalize a strategic plan by the end of June that aligns with council‑approved KPIs where applicable; leadership promised written follow‑ups showing the new plan and the performance indicators that will guide PAB work across the next two years.

Cooperation with RPD and transparency

The board emphasized cooperative contacts with Rochester Police Department leadership. Chief David Smith has asked the PAB to work on specific policy projects, and board leaders said monthly meetings with the chief are constructive. The PAB also flagged a notable success: the department accepted a PAB policy recommendation related to crowd and protest management.

Council requests and next steps

Council members asked the board for:
- A clear comparison (Venn diagram or table) showing what the PAB can and cannot do now versus previous investigatory powers;
- The finalized strategic plan and a subsequent work session to review it with council; and
- Regular data reports showing complaint intake and any systemic patterns, including ZIP code and demographic cross‑tabs.

The PAB agreed to provide an organizational chart showing the current rework, to share the strategic plan upon finalization (end of June), and to provide written KPI and data briefings. Myers Small and board leaders said these materials will be distributed and the board will continue monthly reporting to council.

Ending note: The PAB’s leadership framed the pivot as a pragmatic response to a legal constraint while preserving a forward‑looking capacity to shape police policy and produce data‑driven recommendations; the council asked for clear charts and written materials to explain the changes and their practical effect on oversight.