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57 Buffalo Police Officers Resign From Special Unit After Two Are Suspended For Violently Pushing 75-Year-Old Protester
By
Ben Yakas
Published Jun 5, 2020
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By
Ben Yakas
Published Jun 5, 2020
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After two Buffalo police officers were suspended without pay for shoving a 75-year-old protester to the ground during a protest on Thursday, the entire Buffalo Police Department Emergency Response Team has resigned from that unit (but not the police force) as a show of support. “Fifty-seven resigned in disgust because of the treatment of two of their members, who were simply executing orders,” John Evans, PBA president, said in a statement.
The incident, which was captured by a reporter from local radio station WBFO, took place in Buffalo’s Niagara Square during a police brutality demonstration on Thursday evening. Just after curfew began at 8 p.m., the officers started to move forward when 75-year-old protester Martin Gugino approached them.
As you can see in the video below, an officer then violently pushed Gugino to the ground, where he hit his head on the pavement and started bleeding out of his ear. (Officers can be heard shouting "push him back" right when the shove occurs.) One officer starts to bend down to check on him, but is waved off by the officer who pushed him. Multiple officers then walk by as Gugino lays on the pavement bleeding.
Initially, a Buffalo Police spokesman falsely claimed that during a "skirmish involving protestors, one person was injured when he tripped and fell." After the video was spread widely on social media, Police Commissioner Byron Lockwood ordered the immediate suspension of the two officers involved without pay, and said a full Internal Affairs investigation was underway.
Buffalo Mayor Byron Brown said in a statement that he was "deeply disturbed" by the video of the incident: "After days of peaceful protests and several meetings between myself, police leadership and members of the community, tonight’s event is disheartening."
Governor Andrew Cuomo addressed the incident during his press conference on Friday morning as well, calling for the firing the officers and possible criminal charges: "When I saw the video I got sick to my stomach. I think Mayor Brown was 100% right in suspending the police officers. He acted quickly and appropriately. The firing is a collective bargaining question...I think the city should pursue firing. The DA should look at possible criminal charges. We saw in Minneapolis, people want answers and accountability. The wheels of justice move slowly, they don't have to. I would encourage the DA to move quickly. The mayor suspended the cops quickly, I respect that."
The 57 officers in the Buffalo Police Department Emergency Response Team, which was formed in 2016 and is deployed to manage riots or mass protests, have resigned from the unit, but not from the department. The Buffalo police union wrote on their website today, "These guys did nothing but do what they were ordered to do. This is disgusting."
Mayor Byron Brown said in a statement that the city was aware of the resignations: “The City of Buffalo is aware of developments related to the work assignments of certain members of the Buffalo police force. At this time, we can confirm that contingency plans are in place to maintain police services and ensure public safety within our community. The Buffalo police continue to actively work with the New York State Police and other cooperating agencies.”
After the shoving, Gugino was taken to a local hospital, where he is in serious but stable condition. He suffered a concussion and lacerations, but is expected to survive.
Friends told Buffalo News that he is a longtime peace activist involved with the group PUSH Buffalo: "He’s a gentle person who really believes that he must stand up for what he thinks is right," his friend Terrence Bisson told the outlet. "That’s why he went to the demonstration. He would never resist physically any kind of orders...He is very focused. I'm sure he will get through this. It’s kind of tragic. He’s the last person you would want to push down. He’s the kind of person who you would want to speak up."
Gugino, who is active on Twitter, tweeted this on Thursday before the rally:
A GoFundMe has been set up for Gugino here to help pay for his medical bills and any future legal fees.
Tagged
George Floyd
protest
police brutality
buffalo
Ben Yakas
Ben Yakas is a former Gothamist reporter.
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Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
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