Investigative report faults PAB executive director’s leadership and decision-making

ROCHESTER, N.Y. — The results of an investigation into wrongdoing by the head of the Rochester Police Accountability Board are in.

And they do not look favorably upon Conor Dwyer Reynolds.

Dwyer Reynolds, the board’s first executive director, was put on leave in May. Rochester City Council President Miguel Melendez said at the time it was due to human resources-related complaints.

Not much else has been said about Dwyer Reynolds since. He sued the City of Rochester and PAB in an effort to be reinstated, but in September, a judge threw it out.

Wednesday, the outside law firm retained to investigated Dwyer Reynolds released a redacted version of the report to the public. The full report has been sent to the PAB board, City Council, Mayor Malik Evans, and legal staff.

It found that Dwyer Reynolds:

• repeatedly disregarded City of Rochester policies, practices, and directives regarding the handling of confidential information and documents.
• his claims of sexual harassment and retaliation against former Chairwoman Shani Wilson were not substantiated.
• claims of retaliation, hostile work environment, discrimination and other alleged policy violations by Dwyer Reynolds could not be substantiated.
• claims of sexual harassment, retaliation and discrimination made by and against other PAB employees could not be substantiated.
• Dwyer Reynolds is unlikely to rectify his behaviors if returned to his position and his past violations will profoundly impact his continued tenure at the PAB.
• Dwyer Reynolds exhibited during his active tenure, and continues to demonstrate, poor leadership and inappropriate behaviors that make him unsuitable to serve as Executive Director of the PAB.

The report recommends that he be terminated. But as of right now, he is still suspended. The PAB board will evaluate Dwyer Reynolds’ employment status and make a determination.

Dwyer Reynolds released the following statement Wednesday afternoon:

“Anyone who reads the entire report will see that it vindicates me. The report found that nearly every allegation against me was unsubstantiated. And it concludes that Shani Wilson’s conduct toward me was ‘wholly improper’ and ‘incredibly inappropriate.’ Most importantly, it confirms that I never discriminated or retaliated against anyone. Rather, I am chiefly faulted for sharing documents with reporters that should have been public to begin with and providing too much time off to an employee. To fire me for these minor policy violations would do nothing but harm the PAB.”

The PAB released the following statement Wednesday afternoon:

“The Police Accountability Board has been notified that the investigation into concerns of possible mismanagement of the organization has concluded. The report is currently under review as the members of the board and senior staff work to identify the next steps for the agency. At this time, we will not be commenting publicly about the findings.”

This is a developing story. News10NBC will provide updates as they become available.

The report is available here.

Check out past coverage of the Police Accountability Board:

• More internal strife at Police Accountability Board amid accusations against acting manager (Oct 12)
• Some Rochester City Council members say they didn’t know a PAB member was put on leave (Oct 7)
• PAB loses another member; deputy chief of community engagement fired on Friday (Oct 7)
• Another top Police Accountability Board leader gets suspended (Oct 6)
• PAB wants your input on police disciplinary “matrix” (Oct 4)
• Suspended director of Police Accountability Board loses lawsuit that aimed to reinstate him (Sept 22)
• 111 reports filed with Police Accountability Board in first 30 days (July 20)
• PAB Alliance voices concerns over nomination and budget (June 22)
• PAB Board Chair submits resignation (June 10)
• Police Accountability Board Chair accused of sexual harassment (June 7)
• Police Accountability Board will start taking complaints in June (May 27)
• City councilmembers question PAB and what they are doing with their time (May 24)