RPD’s deputy chief of community engagement moves on

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A public safety update Wednesday revealed that the Rochester Police Department will soon lose its deputy chief of community engagement.

Chief David Smith confirmed Keith Stith has accepted a new job as the first public safety director in Piscataway Township, N.J., Stith’s home state.

“We do wish him luck in his future endeavors, and he will certainly be missed,” Smith said.

Hired largely because of his three decades of experience in law enforcement, Stith had prior service in Hudson County with the prosecutor’s office, and homicide and gang task force. To accept the Rochester job, he put his fledgling public safety consulting business on hold.

Keith Stith

“I wouldn’t have done that if I wasn’t committed to the city of Rochester,” Stith said in a 2023 interview with the Beacon. “As long as they can put up with me, I’m here.”

Stith arrived in Rochester in September 2022 to improve the RPD’s outreach to the community, which had turned critical and distrustful of its police department given a number of high-profile incidents including the death of Daniel Prude.

Stith promised an outreach approach of “acknowledge, repair, and empower,” one which would not shy away from tough conversations. One of Stith’s supporters described it as transforming the public safety building from “a Hall of Doom into a place for the people.”

“This plan, it isn’t Keith Stith’s plan, it’s a co-production. I want it to be everyone’s plan; I want everyone to have a voice,” said Stith.

During his tenure, he was most lauded for bringing the Frederick Douglass HBCU Football Classic to Rochester, receiving a 2024 Economic Champions Award from the Rochester Economic Development Corp. The all-day event featured a tailgate party and battle of the bands in addition to two HBCU teams clashing in an exhibition game.

“He was a critical part of the team to get that football game that weekend,” commented Smith. “Thousands enjoyed not only entertainment, but our youth were also able to build positive connections with these schools and our department.”

It is unclear if Stith’s position as deputy chief of community engagement will be filled in the future.

Smith has commended the department’s recent community engagement efforts. For example, a new policy by Patrol Commander Michael DeSain now requires officers to carry out two 15-minute walking sessions per patrol. During that time, these officers should engage with shop owners, patrons, or other passersby in the neighborhood. He said the compliance rate for the new measure is at 90 percent.

“Our officers are increasingly out in the community,” Smith said. “There has been a tremendous increase in community engagement from this department.”

Jacob Schermerhorn is a Rochester Beacon contributing writer and data journalist. 

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One thought on “RPD’s deputy chief of community engagement moves on

  1. One of the functions of the Office of Community Engagement is, “Reviewing investigations into alleged or apparent discrimination or misconduct by RPD personnel and recommending discipline, training, etc.”

    It seems they are doing a fine job.

    So why is the city continuing to fund the PAB?

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