Rob attended Marist College, majoring in Criminal Justice. In 1982 he joined the Town of Poughkeepsie Police Department where he served 12 years in the Patrol Division.

Honoring Rolison | CPCA

Rob is the son of the late Senator Jay P. Rolison, Jr. He is a lifelong resident of Poughkeepsie where he proudly raised his son Christopher and continues to reside with his wife, Lori.

Robert Rolison is a lifelong resident of Poughkeepsie. He attended Marist College, where he majored in criminal justice. He lives in Poughkeepsie with his wife, Lori, and has one son.

Honoring NYS Senator Robert G. Rolison

Rob attended Marist College, majoring in Criminal Justice. In 1982 he joined the Town of Poughkeepsie Police Department where he served 12 years in the Patrol Division. Rob worked his way up the ranks and was promoted to Detective, a post he held for 14 years. During this time, Rob also became a state-certified Police Juvenile Officer.

Rob was elected PBA President for two consecutive five-year terms before retiring in February of 2008. Upon retirement, Rob concluded a 26-year career protecting the Town of Poughkeepsie’s residents.

Rob retired after a career with the Town of Poughkeepsie Police Department, where he worked in the Patrol Division and as a detective.

Rob Rolison (R-39th District) was elected to the New York State Senate in November 2022 and his serving his first term. He serves as ranking member on two committees: Cities II and Children and Families. The 39th Senate District includes parts of Dutchess, Putnam, and Orange counties.

Rob Rolison Sworn in as State Senator in Poughkeepsie | NYSenate.gov

POUGHKEEPSIE -- Senator Rob Rolison (R-Poughkeepsie, Newburgh) today took the oath of office in a local swearing-in ceremony hosted at Revel 32 in the City of Poughkeepsie. The former twice-elected mayor, who ended his tenure earlier this week, was accompanied by his wife Lori, son Chris, and their family. Poughkeepsie School Board President Tom O'Neill, a former city judge, administered the oath of office.

Prior to serving as Mayor, Rob was a member of the Dutchess County Legislature for 12 years, representing the City and Town of Poughkeepsie. In this capacity Rob served as Chairman of the Legislature’s Public Safety as well as Children and Families committees.

Rob was elected to the New York State Senate for the 39th District in November 2022 and is serving his first term. He previously served two terms as mayor and was a member of the Dutchess County Legislature for 12 years, representing the City and Town of Poughkeepsie.

2026 New York General Election

"This begins by offering a fiscally responsible budget which preserves critical services and investments. New York State faces a daunting budget deficit thanks to years of profligacy and poor planning. Our conference stands ready to offer sound alternatives to the broken status quo, but the one-party state legislature and executive branches must choose to listen to something other than their own echo chamber."

Senator Rob Rolison Responds to State of the State Address | NYSenate.gov

Calls for a fiscally responsible state budget that preserves critical services and investments.

- Calls for a fiscally responsible state budget that preserves critical services and investments.

Economy

The first piece of legislation, S.8463, introduced by Senator Rob Rolison, would establish a one-year utility bill tax and surcharge holiday and a two-year green energy gas tax holiday, which would provide not only immediate, but real and meaningful relief to ratepayers who are paying residential electric rates 50% higher than the national average.

Rolison Requests Utility Tax Holiday Bill to be Included in Final State Budget | NYSenate.gov

“The health and safety of New Yorkers is not up for debate. These capital projects will support clean drinking water and pollution reduction, fix our state roads, support the arts, expand state parks, and build and maintain public libraries. I am proud to stand with a bipartisan coalition of legislators who fought for and delivered on a wide range of much-needed capital funding for Hudson Valley and statewide priorities,” said Rolison.

Rolison Delivers on Key Public Safety, Affordability, Environmental Priorities with Budget Votes | NYSenate.gov

Introduced Senate Bill S.8463 to establish temporary utility-bill and green-energy gas-tax holidays.

Introduced a bill to establish temporary utility-bill and green-energy gas-tax holidays.

Supports capital funding for clean drinking water and pollution-reduction projects.

- Introduced a bill to establish temporary utility-bill and green-energy gas-tax holidays.
- Supports capital funding for clean drinking water and pollution-reduction projects.

Energy & the Environment

"Second, focus on local residents who are tired of paying for Albany's untested policies. The inexcusable Medicaid cost-shift is exhibit A. Our counties' already squeezed taxpayers cannot afford to take on millions of dollars in new mandates."

Opposes shifting Medicaid costs to counties through new state mandates.

- Opposes shifting Medicaid costs to counties through new state mandates.

Healthcare

As of September 9, 2026, Robert Rolison did not have a website or any information online.

Voting & Elections

Rob also led the effort to attract and retain members of the Police Department; as a result of his leadership on this initiative, the City earned a statewide award from the New York State Conference of Mayors.

“This state budget takes important steps to address crime and public safety. As a retired former police officer who served his community for 26 years, I understand that nothing else matters unless New Yorkers feel safe. Albany still has a long way to go to improve New York's broken criminal justice system, including changing the law to expand judges' discretion to consider dangerousness in sentencing, something no other state prohibits, but the policies contained in the final budget document represent pragmatic, common-sense steps toward reform,” said Rolison.

Led an effort to attract and retain members of the Poughkeepsie Police Department.

Calls for allowing judges to consider whether defendants pose a danger in sentencing decisions.

- Led an effort to attract and retain members of the Poughkeepsie Police Department.
- Calls for allowing judges to consider whether defendants pose a danger in sentencing decisions.

Public Safety

Working closely with the Poughkeepsie City School District, Rob helped form the Children’s Cabinet to create a shared vision and cradle-to-career agenda for child and youth development throughout the city. The innovative concept is the only one of its kind outside of New York City.

Helped form Poughkeepsie's Children's Cabinet to develop a cradle-to-career agenda for children and youth.

Helped form Poughkeepsie's Children's Cabinet to develop a "cradle-to-career agenda" for children and youth.

- Helped form Poughkeepsie's Children's Cabinet to develop a "cradle-to-career agenda" for children and youth.

Education

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Robert Rolison

- Supports capital funding for clean drinking water and pollution-reduction projects.

As of September 9, 2026, Robert Rolison’s website did not contain information on this issue.

- Calls for allowing judges to consider whether defendants pose a danger in sentencing decisions.

About New York State Senator Robert G. Rolison

Robert Rolison previously worked in the Patrol Division and as a detective for the Town of Poughkeepsie Police Department. He also served as a state-certified police juvenile officer.

Repeat offenders, those
affiliated with gangs, and offenders using a deadly weapon need to be held accountable and cannot be
immediately released back into our communities.
I’m respectfully requesting that you include common sense reforms to Raise the Age in your
Executive Budget. I recently authored S.8531, legislation that gives more judicial discretion over the
removal of cases to family court and makes illegally using or possessing a firearm an exception to a
case being removed to family court. I believe any or all of the changes in my bill would go a
long way to fixing the system and improving public safety.

11.17.25-sen.-rolison-raise-the-age-letter-final.pdf

Authored S.8531 to expand judicial discretion in Raise the Age cases and exclude illegal firearm possession or use from being transferred to family court.

- Authored S.8531 to expand judicial discretion in Raise the Age cases and exclude illegal firearm possession or use from being transferred to family court.

Isaac Brickman

Buket Urgen

Lisa Kaul

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