Rochester Mayor Lovely Warren announced Cynthia Herriott-Sullivan as the new interim police chief for the Rochester Police Department.

Herriott-Sullivan's appointment will begin October 14, Warren said at a news conference Saturday. 

The announcement follows the retirement of previous Police Chief La’Ron Singletary. 

Singletary, two other retirement announcements, and the move by two others to a previous rank, is seen as a defiant response to how the city has responded to the death of Daniel Prude.

Herriott-Sullivan is the first woman in the Rochester Police Department to hold the position of chief.

Warren said Herriott-Sullivan will bring a different perspective and a fresh approach to policing, which she believes is very much needed.

Herriott-Sullivan joined RPD in 1985. During her time with the police department before retiring, she served as the executive lieutenant in the office of the chief. She retired in 2009 with more than 20 years of experience under her belt, Warren said.

Herriott-Sullivan said ironically, she left law enforcement to help have a bigger hand in keeping people out of jail.

During her time outside of the force, she worked on criminal justice disparities, including issues surrounding homelessness, and keeping kids off of school suspension track.

Herriott-Sullivan said she’s happy to have the opportunity to bring back that knowledge, and bring additional resources to the table.

In additon to the new chief, Gabriel Person has been appointed to deputy chief, and officer Moses Robinson will now be part of the command staff in the chief’s office.

His new position will have him working in the area of community engagement and violence reduction.

“I believe that Rochester, New York; and I will give my 110 percent for this will change the dynamic for urban policing around the world. Based on our cooperation, our synergy our love for each other and our love for god," said Robinson.