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Rob Rolison has worn many hats during a career of public service that has spanned nearly three decades. But of all the jobs he’s filled for the people of Dutchess County, his most enduring passion has never wavered.
“I got involved with police work at 21 years old,” said Rolison, 49, just four days after his retirement from the Town of Poughkeepsie Police Department last week. “Back then I was working part-time in Hyde Park and for the Dutchess County Sheriff’s Office. I’ve always loved being part of public service. It’s a very important job to protect the public.”
“He was a consummate pro,” said Town of Poughkeepsie Head Detective Captain Paul Lecomte. “He gave in many ways to the police as well as to the community. He was unselfish and always giving of his time.”
Public service runs in Rolison’s blood. His father, Jay Rolison, served 24 years as a New York state senator and was a volunteer member of the Croft Corners Station of the Arlington Fire District from 1962 until his death in 2007.
“I joined the fire company too, at 18 years old, and loved every minute of it,” said Rolison. “It got me thinking about a lot of things.”
Rolison will have plenty of time to think now that he’s officially retired after 26 years on the force. Then again, there are still his responsibilities as the Republican Assistant Minority Leader of the Dutchess County Legislature.
“I was never thinking about politics,” he said. “As a young police officer I was so consumed with the job and loving it.”
But Rolison has rarely – if ever – been able to refuse the call to serve. His story is one of hard work, persistence and a generous spirit, all of which have contributed to one of the most impressive service careers in Dutchess County history.
On the beat
Rolison joined the Town of Poughkeepsie Police Department in 1982 as a 23-year-old patrolman. From the start, he was enthralled.
“To be on call on the street 365 days a year, 24 hours a day, is unique to police work,” he said. “Patrol work is exciting. There’s a real ‘go-go-go’ aspect to it. You’re assigned to an area in a car and you’re constantly putting out fires. You’re a first responder so you’re in the thick of things. I loved it.”
“When Rob came to the police department you couldn’t have asked for anyone more eager to learn and develop his skills,” said Police Chief Peter Wilkinson. “He’s always been very involved and interested with the quality of life in the community.”
Rolison was always acutely aware, however, of the dangers associated with his job.
“Being a cop is dangerous from the smallest to the largest communities,” he said. “Things can always go wrong. Someone once said that police work is 99 percent routine boredom and 1 percent terror. That’s really true as a first responder. You’re in the thick of bad situations. One mistake can be the difference between whether you’re coming home after your shift or not.”
That danger and a desire to further challenge himself were what prompted Rolison to make the move to detective in 1994.
“It was obviously a lot slower and more methodical,” he said. “The pressure patrol guys are under to quickly rectify a situation was not there. In the beginning, I missed the patrol. It took me a good year to get comfortable. I kept yearning for the patrol atmosphere.”
Rolison was also active in other police activities as well. He was appointed to the executive board of the Police Benevolence Association in 1987 and began the first of his two terms as PBA president in 1990.
“He made sure the Town of Poughkeepsie police officers were well represented,” said Lecomte. “That’s all time he gave on the side that he wasn’t paid for.”
“I enjoyed working on behalf of our members,” Rolison said. “It was a semi-political position. I did a lot of traveling around the area from Albany to Westchester and I was pretty successful at it. That gave me a jumpstart into political life, though at the time I still didn’t foresee how it would happen.”
The Legislature calls
In June of 2003, when Dutchess County Legislator Fred Pizzuto stepped aside to take a position in the comptroller’s office, Rolison was approached to fill the vacant seat. At the time, he was serving his second term as PBA president. He was intrigued, but talked it over with his father as well as Chief Wilkinson, who gave his blessing.
“I wasn’t concerned because I knew police work was his No. 1 priority,” said Wilkinson. “I also think (working in the Legislature) broadened his exposure to community concerns and made him better at developing strategies to address those concerns.”
“Transitioning into the Legislature was pretty smooth,” said Rolison, who resigned as PBA president once he began serving in the Legislature. “I already knew the public very well because of my police work. I wasn’t coming from the private sector. I had already received training you can’t get anywhere else.”
His fellow legislators agree that Rob was a natural.
“He helped give the other legislators insight into the different law enforcement problems that were out there,” said Minority Leader Gary Cooper (R-Pine Plains/North East/Milan/Stanford). “That was Rob’s niche.”
Rolison was elected to his first full term later that year and is currently in his third term.
“Politics didn’t happen by design,” he said. “And since I didn’t have to run for the office right away, it was a great way to get my feet wet. I didn’t want to pass up the opportunity.”
Pride in papa
It’s clear that much of Rolison’s inspiration for dedicating his life to public service comes from the model set by his father, Jay.
“As I got older, people would come up to me and tell me what kind of legislator and person he was and how much of a difference he made,” said Rolison. “That made me see how rewarding this type of life could be and it triggered what I ended up doing. You know, in this line of work you don’t ask for thanks. But when you get it, it feels good.”
Rolison said that when his father died last year, the community remembered him as a humble man.
“My Dad was an extremely powerful politician,” he said. “He was the Assistant Majority Leader in the State Senate. But he was a regular guy. He was never impressed with himself. He just liked working within the community. And that makes me want to continue to help people in my life.”
At only 49, some might question why Rolison is choosing to retire now.
“It just felt like the right time,” he said. “There are other things I want to do. I hope to continue to serve in politics, but I also want to start a second career. I don’t know what that is yet. I just know I want to be involved with making the community better. That’s what I’ve done, that’s what I know how to do. The opportunity to make a difference really gets into your system. It energizes you to do as much good as you can.”
“If I had to describe Rob in one word, it would be ‘proud,’” said Lecomte. “He was proud to wear the badge, proud to serve the community. I will always think of him that way.”
