Buffalo Police Department

The City of Buffalo Police Department was established in 1871, taking over for the previous Niagara Frontier Police District (c. 1866{{cite web | url=https://www.lawbookexchange.com/pages/books/71447/niagara-frontier-police-district/manual-of-the-niagara-frontier-police-force-of-the-state-of-new-york |title=Manual of the Niagara Frontier Police Force of the State of New York by Niagara Frontier Police District on the Lawbook Exchange, Ltd }}) that oversaw not only Buffalo, but also Tonawanda and Wheatfield.{{Cite journal|last1=Harring |first1=Sidney L. |last2=McMullin|first2=Lorraine M. |date=1975 |title=The Buffalo Police 1872—1900: Labor Unrest, Political Power and the Creation of the Police Institution |url=http://www.jstor.org/stable/29765953 |journal=Crime and Social Justice |issue=4 |pages=5–14 |jstor=29765953 |issn=0094-7571}} The first BPD force had 204 men.

The BPD appointed its first female police officer prior to World War I.{{cite web |title=History of Black Police Officers |url=http://www.bpdthenandnow.com/historyblackofficerpage1.html |website=Buffalo Police Then & Now |access-date=6 June 2020}} The department hired George C. Sarsnett, its first Black policeman in 1919. He served the city for nineteen years dying of natural causes in 1937.{{cite news |title=19-Year Police Career Halted by Death |url=http://www.bpdthenandnow.com/historyblackofficerpage1.html |access-date=6 June 2020 |publisher=Buffalo Evening News |date=9 February 1937}} The second Black policeman, hired that same year was Oliver M. Bragg. He was promoted to detective and stayed with the police until his retirement in 1946. Fifty-one Buffalo police officers have died in the line of duty. The first of these was George Dill who was shot and killed in 1865.{{cite web|title=Buffalo Police Department, New York|url=https://www.odmp.org/agency/451-buffalo-police-department-new-york|access-date=31 May 2019|website=Officer Down Memorial Page}}

In 1930 the department changed the design of its badges. Press reports at the time indicated that Mayor Frank X. Schwab had distributed official badges to his friends causing confusion.{{cite news |title=Police Ask New Badge to End Use of Old Ones by "Friends" |url=http://www.bpdthenandnow.com/badgepager01.html |access-date=6 June 2020 |publisher=Buffalo Evening News |date=3 October 1930}}

BPD was formerly arranged with stations into "precincts" like the NYPD (total 17) but this was replaced with five districts and subdivided into sectors.

In 2018, the BPD, along with the Buffalo Fire Department, moved into a new joint headquarters building in the former Michael J. Dillon Federal Courthouse.{{Cite news |url=https://buffalonews.com/2018/09/10/moving-day-for-buffalo-police-department/ |title=Buffalo Police Department begins move to new headquarters |last=Williams |first=Deidre |date=2018-09-10 |work=The Buffalo News |access-date=2019-01-24 |language=en-us}} The Buffalo Police Commissioner is Joseph A. Gramaglia,{{Cite web|title=Contact Information {{!}} Buffalo Police, NY|url=https://www.bpdny.org/149/Contact-Information|access-date=2022-06-01|website=bpdny.org}} he replaced Commissioner Byron C. Lockwood.{{Cite web|title=Buffalo Police Commissioner Byron Lockwood retires from the department after 38 years|url=https://www.wgrz.com/article/news/local/buffalo-police-commissioner-byron-lockwood-retires-from-the-department-after-38-years/71-d045b2dd-3193-4b2e-b3a4-316e4555d891|access-date=2022-06-01|website=wgrz.com|date=24 February 2022 |language=en-US}} The 1st Deputy Commissioner is Barbara Lark.{{Cite web|title=Contact Information {{!}} Buffalo Police, NY|url=https://www.bpdny.org/149/Contact-Information|access-date=2022-06-01|website=bpdny.org}}

The BPD has a history of police brutality and racial profiling.{{Cite news|last=Heaney|first=Jim|date=2020-06-06|title=The Terrifying History of Bad Cops in Buffalo|language=en|work=The Daily Beast|url=https://www.thedailybeast.com/the-terrifying-history-of-bad-cops-in-buffalo|access-date=2021-04-14}}{{Cite web|last=i_beebe|date=2020-06-10|title=A black Buffalo cop stopped another officer's chokehold. She was fired.|url=https://www.cityandstateny.com/articles/policy/criminal-justice/black-buffalo-cop-stopped-another-officers-chokehold-she-was-fired|access-date=2020-06-14|website=CSNY|language=en}}{{Cite web|date=2020-06-01|title=Buffalo has its own cases of police brutality – especially against people of color |first=Matthew |last=Spina |url=https://buffalonews.com/2020/06/01/buffalo-has-its-own-cases-of-police-brutality-especially-against-people-of-color/|access-date=2020-06-14|website=The Buffalo News|language=en-us}}{{Cite web|last=admin|date=2016-07-13|title=Checkpoint Buffalo: Are the BPD's traffic stops unconstitutional?|url=https://www.cityandstateny.com/articles/politics/new-york-state-articles/checkpoint-buffalo-are-the-bpd%E2%80%99s-traffic-stops-unconstitutional.html|access-date=2020-06-14|website=CSNY|language=en}} In its early days, the department primarily served upper-class business interests in Buffalo, in particular to quell labor unrest; business interests controlled the police commissioners and the superintendents. The department has also been accused of retaliation against officers who attempt to stop police misconduct. Accountability measures for police are very weak in Buffalo.{{Cite web|last=Kelly|first=Geoff|date=2020-07-29|title=City Hall inertia on one-sided police contract|url=https://www.investigativepost.org/2020/07/28/city-hall-inertia-on-one-sided-police-contract/|access-date=2021-04-14|website=Investigative Post}}

In 2006, BPD officer Cariol Horne intervened when Gregory Kwiatkowski, a white officer, was choking a handcuffed black suspect.{{cite news |url=https://www.theatlantic.com/ideas/archive/2020/07/what-police-departments-do-whistle-blowers/613687/ |work=The Atlantic |title=Police Punish the 'Good Apples' |date=July 1, 2020 |first=Musa |last=al-Gharbi |access-date=July 2, 2020 }} Horne claimed that Kwiatkowski punched her in the face, while Kwiatkowski claimed Horne had jumped on him while he was struggling with the suspect. The incident was not filmed. An internal investigation resulted in no other officer supporting Horne's claims. For her intervention, she was fired and lost her pension one year before it went into effect,{{Cite news |first1=Justin |last1=Sondel |first2=Hannah |last2=Knowles|date=2020|title=George Floyd died after officers didn't step in. These police say they did — and paid a price.|newspaper=The Washington Post|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/nation/2020/06/10/police-culture-duty-to-intervene/|access-date=July 2, 2020 }} whereas Kwiatkowski was shortly thereafter promoted to lieutenant.{{Cite news|last=Bromwich|first=Jonah E.|date=2021-04-14|title=Court Vindicates Black Officer Fired for Stopping Colleague's Chokehold|language=en-US|work=The New York Times|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2021/04/13/nyregion/cariol-horne-police-chokehold.html|access-date=2021-04-14|issn=0362-4331}} In 2009, Kwiatkowski was convicted and sentenced to prison after using excessive force on four handcuffed black teenagers.{{Cite web|date=2020-06-11|title=Take this dispute to court: Firing of Buffalo police officer deserves measured consideration|url=https://buffalonews.com/2008/05/15/take-this-dispute-to-court-firing-of-buffalo-police-officer-deserves-measured-consideration/ |access-date=2020-06-12|website=Buffalo News }}{{Cite web|date=2020-06-11|title=Ex-Buffalo cop gets 4 months in prison in 2009 excessive force case |url=https://buffalonews.com/news/local/ex-buffalo-cop-gets-4-months-in-prison-in-2009-excessive-force-case/article_b24bbbff-4c3a-5076-9002-6fe52787af6a.html |access-date=2020-06-12|website=Buffalo News }} Kwiatkowski was forced to retire after assaulting two other officers in separate incidents, but was permitted to keep his pension.{{cite news |title=Fired cop says she tried to stop another from choking suspect |url=https://www.theindychannel.com/news/fired-cop-says-she-tried-to-stop-another-from-choking-suspect |website=theindychannel.com|date=December 22, 2014 |access-date=July 2, 2020 }} In 2020, in the wake of George Floyd protests, including the Niagara Square shoving incident, major law firm Kirkland & Ellis launched an action for reinstatement on behalf of Horne.{{cite news |url=https://www.chicagotribune.com/news/criminal-justice/ct-fired-buffalo-officer-chicago-support-20201026-rifgyniwtffy7nmztj3jdaknkq-story.html |title=Fired Buffalo police officer who contends she stopped another cop from choking a man finds new support — in Chicago |first=Annie |last=Sweeney |newspaper=Chicago Tribune |date=October 26, 2020 |access-date=November 8, 2020 }} On April 13, 2021, a state court judge vindicated Horne, granting her the back pay and benefits that the BPD had denied her.{{Cite web|last=Reporter|first=Maki Becker News Staff|title=Fired Buffalo police officer wins lawsuit, will get her pension|url=https://buffalonews.com/news/local/crime-and-courts/fired-buffalo-police-officer-wins-lawsuit-will-get-her-pension/article_0c481c2c-9c7f-11eb-95ce-db6e32a6c26b.html|access-date=2021-04-21|website=The Buffalo News|date=April 13, 2021 |language=en}}

Press reports in 2019 indicated the Department had an unwritten policy since at least 1968 to not arrest Catholic priests. Although retired officers said they had never released a priest who had had sexual contact with a child, those detained for public masturbation or sexual activity with an adult were released after a phone call to the local diocese. The clergy of other faiths were not offered the same policy.{{cite news |last1=Hebeck |first1=Dan |title=Marching orders kept Buffalo cops from arresting child-molesting priests |url=https://buffalonews.com/2019/05/19/why-buffalos-child-molesting-priests-werent-arrested/ |access-date=26 May 2019 |publisher=The Buffalo News |date=19 May 2019}}

{{main|Buffalo police shoving incident}}

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|video1=[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QSBZGv5wzK4 Footage of the incident between a 75-year-old man and officers, filmed by a WBFO news team]}}

On June 4, 2020, amid the George Floyd protests in New York state, police officers from the Buffalo Police Department pushed 75-year-old Martin Gugino during a confrontation in Buffalo's Niagara Square, causing him to fall to the ground which left him bleeding from the ear. He was brought to the hospital and was in "serious but stable condition."{{cite news|last1=Miller|first1=Ryan W.|last2=Culver|first2=Jordan|last3=Robinson|first3=David|last4=Hauck|first4=Grace|last5=Taddeo|first5=Sarah|title=2 Buffalo cops charged with assault after video shows officers shoving 75-year-old man to the ground|language=en-US|website=USA TODAY|url=https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation/2020/06/05/buffalo-new-york-police-officers-suspended-shoving-man-ground/3153626001/|access-date=June 6, 2020}} Two days later he was still listed as being in "critical condition" at Erie County Medical Center.{{cite web|last1=DeDario|first1=Lindsay|date=June 9, 2020|title=Buffalo police arraigned for felony assault, elderly protestor still critical|url=https://news.trust.org/item/20200606162254-764g6|access-date=June 11, 2020|publisher=Reuters}} He suffered a brain injury as a result of the fall and was still unable to walk nearly two weeks after the assault. The BPD claimed in their official statement that the man "tripped and fell".{{cite web|author=Elisha Fieldstadt|date=June 12, 2020|title=The 75-year-old man shoved to ground by Buffalo police suffered brain injury, lawyer says|url=https://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/75-year-old-man-shoved-ground-buffalo-police-suffered-brain-n1230421|access-date=June 12, 2020|work=NBC News}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.cnn.com/2020/06/16/us/martin-gugino-protester-skull/|title = Buffalo protester Martin Gugino has a fractured skull and cannot walk|website = CNN|date = 16 June 2020}} Following the incident, Buffalo mayor Byron Brown announced impending changes to the BPD.{{Cite web |title=Buffalo adopts policing changes after protester is hurt |url=https://www.startribune.com/buffalo-adops-policing-changes-after-protester-is-hurt/571174682/ |access-date=2020-06-14 |publisher=The Associated Press |website=Star Tribune |archive-date=2020-06-14 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200614194744/https://www.startribune.com/buffalo-adops-policing-changes-after-protester-is-hurt/571174682/ |url-status=dead }}

The Department has five districts: A-District, B-District, C-District, D-District, and E-District.{{Cite web|title=Buffalo, NY|url=https://www.buffalony.gov/Directory.aspx?DID=15|access-date=2021-04-16|website=buffalony.gov}}

From 1871 to 1995 police stations were referred to as precincts.{{cite web |url=https://www.bpdthenandnow.com/historypage01.html |work=bpdthenandnow.com |title=Buffalo Police Department History |first=Cindy |last=Diem |first2=Michael |last2=Kaska }}

• Glock 22 .40 S&W Sidearm - standard issue sidearm, replaced Glock 17.
• Benelli Nova Shotgun-standard issue duty shotgun, used in situations when the rifle isn't needed and when the service pistol isn't needed. Medium range encounters.
• Baton (law enforcement) - used as an impact weapon.
• Pepper spray - used as a defensive spray.
• Handcuffs - used to detain subjects.

;Buffalo Police Special Weapons and Tactics

• Glock 22 .40 S&W sometimes outfitted with a TLR-1 weapon light.
• Colt AR-15 - M4A1 and Commando models utilized, usually equipped with different sights, flashlights, fore grips, usually more customized than usual patrol rifles.
• Heckler & Koch MP5 - sub-machine gun utilized for certain scenarios in close quarters where the M4's would be to large and for other incidents.
• Benelli M3 Super 90 - Entry Model with a 14" barrel with some equipped with flashlights.

{{Portal|New York (state)}}

• List of law enforcement agencies in New York
• Erie County Sheriff's Office
• 2022 Buffalo shooting
• {{cite web |url=https://ecommons.cornell.edu/bitstream/handle/1813/73459/xcriminaljustice__buffalo_police_department_fact_sheet.pdf?sequence=1 |title=The City of Buffalo Police Department Fact Sheet |publisher=Partnership for the Public Good

|date=December 2017}}

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Category:Municipal police departments of New York (state)

Category:Government of Buffalo, New York

Category:1871 establishments in New York (state)