Brian Sharp

@SharpRoc

Mayor Lovely Warren's decision to hire armed bodyguards on the city payroll is raising questions about process and nepotism — the security detail being a first for Rochester, and led by her uncle.

"You have a situation where it warranted something from day one," Warren said, declining comment when asked if she had received threats but adding: "We don't do anything for no reason."

Having a security detail is not unusual elsewhere. Buffalo Mayor Byron Brown has a police detail. Albany Mayor Jerry Jennings used to, but his successor, Mayor Kathy Sheehan, has yet to decide. In Rochester, previous mayors have not had an armed security detail, though former Police Chief James Sheppard said he thought they should.

Former Rochester Mayor Thomas Richards often traveled with the head of city security, an unarmed unit that primarily is responsible for security of city facilities and property. Watching over the mayor was not part of the official job description but had become the off-and-on practice during Mayor Robert Duffy's administration. Duffy, the city's one-time police chief, more often drove himself and did not carry a firearm.

Warren's security detail is a two-man team: Reggie Hill, her uncle and a retiring State Police investigator who provided security for three governors when they traveled to western New York, and Ceaser Carbonell, who worked security at Eastman Kodak Co. for 34 years. They will be on call 24-7, receive no overtime, and pick Warren up as well as drop her off at home.

Hill will be paid $80,186 and Carbonell, $61,128, according to salary data the Democrat and Chronicle obtained through an open records request.

In Syracuse — where a police detail regularly racked up $40,000 or more in overtime in past years — Mayor Stephanie Miner has limited the police assignment almost exclusively to business hours.

"That became a pretty plum job," said Bill Ryan, Miner's chief of staff. "Police officers would line up for this job because it was a pretty nice detail and there was a lot of overtime to be had. ... (But) the mayor of a medium sized, central New York city I don't think needs 24-hour, round-the-clock protection."

Today, the Syracuse security detail is an assignment that rotates monthly and, while in City Hall, the officer is available for security matters across departments, Ryan said.

Back in Rochester, there are yet-unanswered questions from City Council about how and when the new positions were created and approved under civil service rules.

Separately, Hill's retirement is not effective until Thursday, according to the state. But he is on leave pending retirement, so that is not an issue, a State Police spokeswoman said.

He will require a state waiver, however, being a retiree returning to work. He applied, but Warren said that process could take a year to complete. The State Comptroller's Office could not immediately answer whether Hill could work without the waiver. According to the comptroller's website: "Not following these rules can result in the loss, suspension or reduction of your retirement benefit." Hill retired with nearly 30 years of service credit.

Warren said both are uniquely qualified but are temporary appointments and will have to go through a formal application process when the positions are advertised.

Hiring her uncle is certain to raise eyebrows, but Warren said: "The bigger thing is his background. You could not find anybody who has this background. (And) I need somebody that I can trust more so than anything for a security team.

"You need to make sure they are going to do anything to make you safe."

Carbonell previously guarded Kodak executives, Warren said. As of Monday, he was still security director for Blue Cross Arena at the Community War Memorial. In a statement, a Kodak spokesman said Carbonell "has been a member of our Worldwide Corporate Security team. He had a range of security responsibilities in this role." The company does not comment on executive security.

"I thought (armed security) was an important piece they all should have had," Sheppard said of past mayors, "and the fact she is a female, I think it would be important to have somebody around her as well."

Having a police officer would be the best scenario, he said, but as a chief he would want his officers fighting crime. Warren agreed: "I think we need our officers on the street doing necessary police work." Further, with an irregular schedule and sometimes long days, she said, there would have been issues with the police union contract and overtime. Her option, she said, was the most feasible and fiscally sound.

While on City Council and at times during the campaign, Warren said, she traveled alone. People would ask where her security was, and say she should have someone with her. Being mayor only increased her profile.

"I want to be able to be accessible and hug people and talk to people and everything else without any fear for my safety," she said.

And to those who might think it unnecesary: "After the fact is too late. I have to think about that. I have other people I have to think about," she said, being married with a 3-year-old daughter. "I want to be of great service to the community but as safely as possible."

BDSHARP@DemocratandChronicle.com

Twitter.com/sharproc