Overview
- Erika Shields was selected to lead the Buffalo Police Department, becoming the first woman tapped for the post.
- She is expected to begin in May, pending approval from the Buffalo Common Council.
- Local responses span scrutiny and cooperation, with the Buffalo NAACP seeking a meeting over past concerns and the police union welcoming her and pressing for a new contract.
- The mayor said a national search produced six finalists and cited her fit with goals to improve public safety, officer hiring, and community trust.
- She led police in Atlanta from 2016 to 2020 and in Louisville from 2021 to 2023, stepping down in Atlanta after the police killing of Rayshard Brooks and leaving Louisville after a mayoral change.