ROCHESTER, N.Y. -- David Moore, a former Rochester police chief, was named on Friday the county's first Office of Public Integrity director by County Executive Cheryl Dinolfo.
"We had a number of candidates, dozens of candidates actually, apply for the job but none was as qualified as Chief David Moore," said Dinolfo, R-Monroe County.
Moore was the Rochester Police Chief from 2006 to 2010 and former director of the City of Rochester’s Office of Public Integrity.
“He’s familiar with the community, and the community is familiar with him," said Dinolfo. "He is a person whose integrity is without question, and who people can feel fully confident in a great selection for the Office of Public Integrity to work with the people of this community.”
The county executive says one of the qualifications for the position is being known in the community, but Democrats in the County Legislature say that’s something they oppose about the process. Democrats point to Moore’s current role as the county's director of public safety as evidence he’s an “an administration insider.”
"When you take somebody who works for you, and put them in that position, they could have all the integrity in the world, but the fact is the appearance is what you’re going to be challenging," said Legislator James Sheppard, a Democrat.
After what Sheppard calls a lengthy search process, he hopes the office will get to work soon on investigating COMIDA.
“I’m sure that the previous allegations and issues that were put on the table will end up in that office, hopefully that will be investigated," Sheppard said. "And I think there are other things that have come up on the radar that will also be forwarded not just through the county leg or through the Democratic Caucus but through citizens who have raised concerns.”
The legislature will vote on Moore’s appointment Tuesday.