Rochester Seeks Volunteers for Police Hiring Panel

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The City of Rochester is looking for volunteers to serve on a Civilian Public Safety Interview Panel that will help conduct group interviews of police officer recruits and provide input to RPD leadership on hiring decisions. The panel is open to Rochester residents 21 and older who meet certain criteria, including passing a background check and completing the Citizen's Police Academy and implicit bias training.

Why it matters

The new panel aims to increase community involvement in the police hiring process, which is seen as an important step toward building trust between the Rochester Police Department and the public it serves. Giving citizens a direct role in evaluating and selecting new officers could help ensure the RPD's workforce better reflects the diversity of the city.

The details

The all-volunteer Civilian Public Safety Interview Panel will conduct group interviews with police officer candidates and share their feedback with RPD command staff and the police chief. To be eligible, applicants must live in the City of Rochester, be at least 21 years old, have availability during business hours, pass a background check, hold a high school diploma or GED, serve a two-year term, and complete the Citizen's Police Academy and implicit bias training.

• The deadline for the next round of applications is Monday, March 30, 2026.
• The panel members will serve two-year terms.

What’s next

The City of Rochester will review applications and select the members of the new Civilian Public Safety Interview Panel in the coming weeks.