Erika Shields, a former police chief in Louisville and Atlanta, has been named Buffalo Police Commissioner, Mayor Sean Ryan announced Monday.
"We are building a safer, stronger city that requires the right leadership and public safety, and I am confident that Erika Shields has values and experience that matches what we are looking for in the Buffalo Police Department," Ryan said in a press conference announcing Shields' appointment.
Shields is expected to assume the role in May following confirmation by the Buffalo Common Council.
"I am honored to have the opportunity to serve the City of Buffalo," Shields said in the release. "Public safety requires a holistic approach grounded in accountability, strong partnerships, and a commitment to doing the job the right way."
Former Chief of Detectives Craig Macy held the title of Acting Commissioner for the past four months, following the retirement of Alphonso Wright.
Shields was chosen after a national search, which composed of 40 candidates and six finalists.
"My approach to law enforcement has been and remains one of fair and equitable policing," Shields said during her announcement. "It is essential to the backbone of every department. If success is going to be attained, the equitable application of the law must occur if an agency is going to have credibility."
She is Buffalo's first female police commissioner, and first commissioner who had not previously served in the Buffalo Police Department since Gil Kerlikowske was appointed by Mayor Anthony Masiello in 1994.
Shields served as Atlanta's police chief from 2016 until June 2020, when she resigned the day after an Atlanta police officer shot and killed 27 year-old Rayshard Brooks during a DUI arrest. One officer was fired, but later reinstated, and the City of Atlanta settled with Brooks' family for $1 million.
Officers were not brought to trial, and the shooting and viral video of it led to protests and civil unrest in Atlanta.
In response to criticism and questions surrounding her being fit to serve the Buffalo community, Shields said that leading a major law enforcement agency always comes with some controversy but that her record shows her efficiency in leadership.
“There is not a quick fix, and you can't think that you're going to step into a role of this magnitude and not have challenges. But you just have to continually work through them," she said.
Shields was later tapped to lead the Louisville Police Department in the wake of their own controversial police shooting, which killed unarmed Breonna Taylor during a no-knock warrant search.
Ryan said this proves Shields has the ability to bring stability to leadership.
"We looked at everything from both departments, and we looked at the major controversies of the day, and we thought that she handled the major controversies of the day quite well in both departments," Ryan said. "Commissioner Shields was brought into Louisville based on her experiences handling controversies at a time where Louisville was just really unstable from recent police-involved shootings there. So that experience we viewed as a plus."
Shields hails from the town of Morris in Central New York. Since 2023 she has been an executive with InVeris, a weapons training firm for military and law enforcement.
Shields said she is glad to be back in her home state.
"My family is still here. Wanting to get back to the northeast, that certainly was an appeal," she said. "To me, Buffalo is a large city, and I'm thrilled. Its history has always fascinated me, and I've watched how it's grown, and invested in the arts community and revitalizing the downtown, and I think it's a beautiful city."
