Scott Peters is the Irondequoit Police Chief, appointed by the Town Board on January 17, 2023. He commands a fully staffed force of 53 sworn officers serving more than 50,000 residents in one of Monroe County’s largest suburban towns, and he answers to the Town Supervisor and the full Town Board.
Who Scott Peters Is
Peters came to the job with more than 30 years in law enforcement. He spent roughly 27 years with the Rochester Police Department, starting as a patrol officer in 1992 and rising to deputy chief of operations. Along the way he commanded the department’s SWAT team and its Narcotics Enforcement Team, and he graduated from the FBI National Academy. Before taking the Irondequoit post he worked for the Monroe County District Attorney’s Office. He replaced former Chief Alan Laird, who retired in November 2022.
Since taking over, Peters has focused on community engagement and modernizing department practices. The department runs a Community Engagement Unit that oversees a volunteer and neighborhood watch program, school outreach, and special event coordination.1Irondequoit, NY. Community Engagement Unit
What the Chief Does
Under New York Town Law, the Town Board establishes the police department, appoints the chief, and sets compensation. The chief then exercises day-to-day command over all officers and operations.2New York State Senate. New York Consolidated Laws, Town Law – TWN 150 Irondequoit’s town code reinforces that structure: once appointed by the Town Board, officers fall under the command and direction of the chief or a designee. The chief also sets departmental standards, qualifications, training requirements, and rules, subject to Town Board approval.3E-Code360. Town of Irondequoit Code – Chapter 48 Police Department
The 53 sworn officers handle patrol, investigations, traffic safety, and youth services across residential neighborhoods and commercial corridors in a town whose 2024 Census estimate stood at 50,380.4U.S. Census Bureau. QuickFacts: Irondequoit Town, Monroe County, New York Civilian staff support administrative functions, records, and evidence processing.
A substantial administrative duty involves New York’s discovery rules. Under Criminal Procedure Law 245.55, every law enforcement agency must give prosecutors a complete copy of its records and files on a case when requested, and the arresting officer or lead detective must promptly notify prosecutors of any 911 recordings, body camera footage, or police radio transmissions tied to the incident.5New York State Senate. New York Criminal Procedure Law 245.55 – Flow of Information If officers fail to turn material over and the prosecution misses a disclosure deadline, courts can impose sanctions. Building a department-wide culture of evidence compliance falls to the chief.
How the Chief Is Appointed
New York Civil Service Law requires any political subdivision with more than four full-time police officers and a population of 150,000 or less to maintain the office of chief of police, so the position is a statutory requirement for Irondequoit rather than a local option.6New York State Senate. New York Civil Service Law 58 – Requirements for Appointment of Certain Police Officers The same statute sets eligibility for the job. No one can be promoted above the rank of police officer in a department of that size unless they were originally appointed from a merit-based eligible list or previously served as a member of the State Police. Candidates must also meet the physical, psychological, and background standards prescribed by the Municipal Police Training Council.
The Monroe County Civil Service Commission typically administers competitive exams covering criminal procedure, personnel management, and related subjects. Top-scoring candidates then go to the Irondequoit Town Board, which holds final appointment authority under Town Law. The board weighs each candidate’s leadership record, community involvement, and professional background before formalizing an employment agreement. Advanced degrees in criminal justice or public administration are common among competitive applicants but are not a statutory prerequisite.
Who the Chief Answers To
The chief reports to the Town Supervisor and the full Town Board, which provides civilian oversight. The board reviews crime statistics, budget spending, and policy changes through regular reporting and can raise concerns at public hearings. Town meetings also give residents a direct forum to raise police-related issues with elected officials.
At the state level, the Municipal Police Training Council sets professional standards. Executive Law Section 840 empowers the council to recommend rules on minimum training, instructor qualifications, and the approval or revocation of police training schools, and to set the physical, psychological, and background screening standards every officer must meet.7New York State Senate. New York Executive Law 840 – Functions, Powers and Duties of Council
Federal reporting layers on top. Since January 1, 2021, the FBI has collected all crime data through the National Incident-Based Reporting System, which captures victim and offender demographics, property involved, and clearance status across 52 offense categories for each incident.8Federal Bureau of Investigation. National Incident-Based Reporting System Getting officers to enter that level of detail on every incident is an ongoing administrative task.