PAB's executive director is out. What's next for the police accountability agency?

The Police Accountability Board voted Thursday night to fire its executive director, Conor Dwyer Reynolds, following a six-month investigation into his conduct leading the agency.

The board also decided to remove acting Manager Duwaine Bascoe from his temporary role as Dwyer Reynolds' replacement. For months, employees accused Bascoe of stoking a hostile work environment. Prior to Thursday's vote, the board had taken no action to address those concerns, according to PAB staff.

The agency will hire an interim executive director and then search for permanent one from outside the PAB, the board said.

Since May, the PAB, meant to provide oversight of the Rochester Police Department, has been entangled in a web of troubling accusations that signaled it was in disarray.

Meanwhile, the agency has received 221 reports from the community since the PAB started accepting complaints in June. Of those, 19 cases were deemed "non-investigable" and closed, and the remainder await the completion of a disciplinary matrix required by the agency's charter before action can be taken.

PAB Board Chair Larry Knox acknowledged internal concerns during Thursday night's meeting and said the path forward requires that the board and employees "keep the community in mind."

"The work that needs to be happening ― and I know a lot of it is ― it's not happening without distraction and without difficulty, and that's not good for the community," he said.

PAB Board faced mounting pressure to take action

Former Executive Director Dwyer Reynolds was suspended over personnel complaints May 12. He claimed the suspension was retaliation for reporting sexual harassment he faced from former Board Chair Shani Wilson.

The outside investigation ordered by city council concluded that personnel complaints against Dwyer Reynolds and his own accusations of sexual harassment could not be substantiated. Investigators said they reviewed thousands of pages of documents and interviewed 39 witnesses for the report, which was released to the public Wednesday.

More:Independent investigation calls for termination of PAB's Conor Dwyer Reynolds

But the 95-page report recommends that the city cut ties with Dwyer Reynolds — who was hired in October 2020 to help get the agency off the ground — because of his inability to uphold confidentiality and his "blatant disregard" for city policy during his tenure as executive director.

The PAB board brushed over the report in Thursday night's public meeting, moving to executive session behind closed doors where they could discuss the personnel matters with legal counsel.

There, they voted 5-1 to remove Dwyer Reynolds, with Dr. Bob Harrison the single dissenting vote.

Rabbi Drorah Setel and Rev. Matthew Nickoloff recused themselves from the vote following a legal memo from Dwyer Reynolds alleging a conflict of interest because of their friendship with Wilson. Setel and Nickoloff maintained their impartiality but abstained to avoid potential litigation.

PAB Board meeting draws large crowd, including past and present employees

Former and current employees packed the board's Thursday night public meeting. They called for Dwyer Reynolds' reinstatement, likening the report's findings to minor infractions that could be resolved with training.

FULL REPORT: Outside investigation of the Police Accountability Board

Ultimately, the board chose to dismiss its embattled executive director and seek a new person to lead the PAB.

In a phone interview Friday, Dwyer Reynolds said the support of employees overpowered a "dark and distraught moment."

"Two votes happened," said Dwyer Reynolds. "One held by the union and one held by the board. I won the one that mattered. I get to leave knowing the people I was asked to lead wanted me there. That's the ultimate vindication for me."

What's next for the PAB?

In a second vote, board members voted 7-0 to remove Bascoe as acting manager and search for an interim, and then permanent executive director. He will keep his former position as chief of investigations.

In a press conference before the board's public meeting, PAB employee De'Jon Hall said the personnel complaints against Dwyer Reynolds noted in the report were "mild and limited" compared to the experiences of staff under Bascoe.

Thirteen staff members have been fired or resigned since May, when Bascoe assumed the top role. That represents a deficit of more than one-third of the agency's 38 workers, an exodus which took place amid a hiring freeze. Several employees said they were fired in retaliation for vocalizing complaints against management.

The agency is still drafting its disciplinary matrix ― guidelines for charges and proposed outcomes concerning police misconduct ― with public input. Under charter rules, the matrix must be completed before the agency can recommend discipline on any complaints.

This article originally appeared on Rochester Democrat and Chronicle: Conor Dwyer Reynolds fired by PAB. What's next for the agency?