24-1866 : Wyatt - News Article Police Oversight

This agenda item, initiated by Council Member Rasheed N.C. Wyatt and referred to the Police Oversight (POLO) Committee, concerns a news article discussing police oversight in Buffalo. The article, published by The Buffalo News on October 21, 2024, highlights preliminary findings from data released by the New York Civil Liberties Union (NYCLU) after a legal battle. The data indicates that between 1995 and 2023, out of 934 internal affairs investigations, allegations of wrongdoing were sustained only 86 times, with just 28 resulting in one-day suspensions. The article argues that this low rate of discipline, coupled with resistance to releasing records and forming an independent citizen review board, points to a lack of transparency and accountability within the Buffalo Police Department. It calls for the new acting mayor to consider establishing a true citizen review board, noting that while body cameras are standard and disciplinary records are now public under FOIL, more progress is needed.