The Buffalo Common Council has voted to confirm Mayor Sean Ryan's selection, Erika Shields, as the new Buffalo Police Commissioner.
In a 5-4 vote Tuesday, the council approved Shields becoming the first female police commissioner in the city's history. The "no" votes came from Chris Scanlon, Zeneta Everhart, Joe Golombek, and Leah Halton-Pope.
"I want to support another woman, but we don't get in positions, and we don't just support people because they're women," said Halton-Pope in her dissenting vote. "We don't get in positions and support them because of ethnicity. We get into positions and we support individuals because they're the best for the position. And while I do have some serious concerns about the salary and where funding is is purportedly coming from, my biggest concern is what's in the best interest of the residents that I serve."
Niagara District Councilmember David Rivera, a former Buffalo police officer, voted to confirm Shields.
"[Shields] brings experience, she talked about training, she talked about working with police unions. No, she doesn't know all the answers to the union problems. I don't think any commissioner for that matter," said Rivera. "We have a bargaining unit, we have a contract, we have state law that we have to adhere to. And guess what? She has to adhere to those state laws as well, and so I'm looking forward to working with this commissioner."
Those who voted no also raised objections over Shields' starting salary, $250,000, a raise from $175,000. Philanthropic foundation dollars have been made available to boost that pay.
Councilmember Chris Scanlon raised the question whether philanthropic organizations donating large sums toward salaries might also seek to influence police administration.
"If the philanthropic community wants to get involved and help the City of Buffalo, there's many other ways that they can do it, other than supporting salaries, exorbitant salaries," he said. "My larger concern is the slippery slope that we're entering and having philanthropic or advocacy groups providing salary support for a police commissioner spot."
Councilmember Joseph Golombek, meanwhile, stated that when approached by the Ryan administration to support Shields, he told them that if there are foundation dollars being made available, they should "use the money to buy another fire truck."
Council president pro tempore Everhart, who in a previous council meeting alleged intimidation to get a yes vote from her, restated her position that she would not be intimated. She voted no.
While details of that alleged intimidation were not disclosed during the meeting, councilmembers joined together to condemn such tactics.
"It is not appropriate to intimidate any council member. I was 27 years old when I sat in this seat, and you better believe it is well known to everyone on this council, I was a target by a past administration, and I know how that feels. The difference is, my colleague had the courage to say it publicly, and now my colleagues have the courage to support them, and I am grateful for that, because it's something that I did not have," said Fillmore District representative Mitch Nowakowski, who voted yes to confirm the new commissioner.
Shields was announced as Ryan's pick in April following a four-month, nationwide search. She previously served in a similar capacity in both Atlanta and Louisville.
Her first day will be May 4.