
The Top Cop Is Out In New York State’s Second Largest City
Ever since former Buffalo Mayor Byron Brown resigned from office after being the longest-serving mayor in Buffalo history, there have been a series of big-name departures from Buffalo City Hall.
Mr. Brown left office just 3 months ago, on October 15. 2024, and since then, we've seen the city's Executive Director of the Office of Strategic Planning, Brendan Mehaffy, City Finance Commissioner Delano Dowell, and Chairman of the Buffalo Water Board / General Manager of the Buffalo Sewer Authority, OJ McFoy, all resign from their positions. That's in addition to the fact that Director of Real Estate Howard Grynspan has been relieved of his duties. All of these changes have the hallways of City Hall abuzz, and now there is another top position that needs to be filled.
Joseph Gramaglia, Commissioner of the Buffalo Police Department, has resigned from his job, and Deputy Commissioner Alphonso Wright has been named the acting commissioner by acting Mayor Scanlon. Scanlon has publicly said that he's recommending Wright be named the permanent commissioner of the Buffalo Common Council.
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There are differing reports as to why former Commissioner Gramaglia is out. Initial reports stated that Gramaglia, who has more than 30 years with the Buffalo Police Department, had a different philosophy about policing than Scanlon and that led to the former Commissioner feeling it was best to voluntarily step down. Other reports state that Scanlon asked for Gramaglia's resignation and that the former Commissioner was blindsided by the request.
Whatever the underlying reason, it goes without saying that this has caught several people by surprise, including New York Governor Kathy Hochul, who appeared at an event with Gramaglia the day before he left his position. According to the Buffalo News, Hochul had no idea Gramaglia was in his last days in his position.
This change doesn't mean that Gramaglia is out of a job, as he is set to return to his previous Buffalo civil service position with the BPD with the rank of Captain and will work in the central office until he can officially retire from the Police Department.
Since it has been reported that Scanlon has a differing position on what priorities the Buffalo Police Department should have, we'll need to wait and see what changes will occur under acting Commissioner Wright.
Highlights from 2024-25 City of Buffalo Budget
Gallery Credit: Ed Nice
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