NEW POLICE COMMISSIONER NAMED:

    City Manager Julia Novak has named Inspector William R. Connors, a twenty-year veteran of the New York City Police Department, as Rye's new Police Commissioner. Connors was selected from four finalists who participated in a two-day interview process in mid-November. Each finalist participated in a rigorous eight hour assessment center that was administered by the International Association of Chiefs of Police, as well as two interview panels, one of selected City Staff and Department heads, the other City Manager Julia Novak and Executive Recruiter Dick Bennett of Norwell, Massachusetts.

    According to Novak, both interview panels were impressed with Connors presentation, but the panel of independent assessors commented specifically on his leadership and command skills; skills that are both necessary and desirable in Rye's next Police Commissioner. "Something resonated with Connors during the interview, in terms of his approach and vision for the Rye Police Department" said Novak "and when I learned how well he did in the Assessment Center, I knew we had found the right person for the position. I think Connors will set a tone of respect and civility within the department that the public will recognize and appreciate." 

    Connors has a Bachelor of Arts in Communications from Fordham University and received his Juris Doctorate from the New York School of Law in 1987. In December 2000, he graduated from the prestigious Police Management Institute at the Columbia University Graduate School of Business. Connors spent five years negotiating and administering Collective Bargaining Agreements for the Police Department as a Sergeant and Lieutenant, and as Counsel to the Assistant Commissioner for Labor Relations. In 1995, as a Captain, Connors was placed in command of 294 officers serving the 128,000 residents of the 52nd precinct in the Northwest Bronx. During his tenure he was responsible for implementing community policing concepts that saw crime reduced by over 33% and complaints fall 17%. Since 1998 Connors has been an Executive Officer in the First Deputy Commissioner's office, which is responsible for Administrative and Support functions of the 51,000-member department.

     Lieutenant Joe Verille, who has been Acting Commissioner since January 2000, will return to his spot overseeing the Detective Unit when Connors begins in mid-January. "Lt. Verille has done an impressive job managing the Rye Police Department during the past eleven months. He has had many difficult issues to work through, and he continues to impress me at every juncture." Novak went on to say that, "Joe Verille has put together a management team that will ultimately help the new Commissioner succeed in this environment." In accepting this appointment, Connors noted, "It is a great honor to be selected to lead the Rye Police Department. All indications are that it is one of the finest police agencies in the area, and I intend to maintain and improve on that reputation, to ensure that the City of Rye continues to receive the highest possible level of police service."

    Commissioner Connors started work at the PD on January 15th, 2001

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