25-1711 : Nowakowski - Buffalo PBA Letter Concerning Staffing and Leadership

This agenda item, 25-1711, concerns a letter from the Buffalo Police Benevolent Association (PBA) President, John Davidson, to Council Member Mitch Nowakowski regarding a potential staffing and leadership crisis within the Buffalo Police Department. The PBA highlights a looming Memorandum of Agreement expiration in June 2026 that affects healthcare coverage for members, potentially incentivizing senior officers to retire before that date.

Projected Retirements by June 2026:

• 74 senior members are expected to retire, including:
  • 27 Police Officers
  • 18 Detectives
  • 1 Detective Sergeant
  • 20 Lieutenants
  • 7 Captains
  • 1 Inspector

This exodus is predicted to significantly impact leadership, particularly the rank of Lieutenant, where the department could fall below the contractual minimum of 90 supervisors, with only 7 officers on the eligible promotion list. Furthermore, patrol officer numbers are projected to be 23 officers below the contractual minimum of 450, exacerbated by low cadet hiring (12 in 2025). The PBA warns that these staffing shortages will inevitably lead to increased overtime and a "devastating impact" on the city and its residents if unaddressed. The item has been repeatedly tabled by the Finance Committee since October 2025.