Friends (including Deerhunter);

Yesterday, the Common Council of the City of Buffalo passed a resolution recognizing the Buffalo Special Police as an entity of the city (Public Officers Law 18). This resolution has been signed and now the BSP is waiting on the mayor to activate our Peace Officer Status (sign the registry).

Concerned citizens, for your convenience, below I have outlined some definitions regarding a Peace Officer and facts regarding the Academy.

What is a Peace Officer?

A Peace Officer has the same powers as a Police Officer, except a Peace Officer may not serve a warrant. A Peace Officer defined in 2.20 of the Criminal Procedure Law, is authorized to make warrentless arrest, use of physical force or deadly force. F.Y.I, the first Law Enforcement Officer in this country was a Peace Officer.

Academy:

Again, ALL Buffalo Special Police are certified and registered NYS Peace Officers. Unless already trained and certified, each officer must attend the Peace Officers Training Academy in Holland, NY. The curriculum is mandated and approved by the NYS Division of Criminal Justice Services, Municipal Police Training Council.

The Buffalo Special Police is a professional organization and officers have worked long hours lobbying for the City’s support. No that we have support of the citizens, the city, now we need more support from the Buffalo Police Department.

We ask the good men and woman of the Buffalo Police to please give us a chance. When you see a Buffalo Special walking his tour, please stop and talk. Shake hands and introduce yourself.

Again, our primary goal here is to make the city a safer place to live and visit. If we all work together, other communities will see Buffalo as a gateway to better community participation. Let’s show the world that we are a city of great neighbors.

BSP