A second official of Rochester’s new Police Accountability Board has been placed on administrative leave.
The city says Mike Higgins, Chief of Policy and Oversight, was put on leave with pay for undisclosed reasons. Two other staff members were fired in September, and Executive Director Conor Dwyer Reynolds remains on administrative leave since running afoul of the PAB’s board in May. He accused the board’s Chair, Shani Wilson, of sexual harassment and she resigned.
The city did not disclose any details of why Higgins was sidelined, citing “personnel matters.”
A statement from City Council President Miguel Melendez says the PAB must be held accountable and an independent investigation of the agency is underway,. He said he’s unable to discuss what happened.