Another Buffalo police official resigns, sources say

BUFFALO, N.Y. (WIVB) — The Buffalo Police Department’s Deputy Commissioner of Administration and Finance Dawn Kent is resigning, according to sources.

Kent’s decision to step away follows Buffalo Police Commissioner Joseph Gramaglia’s apparent resignation on Monday.

Scanlon told WIVB News 4 on Wednesday that he was not entirely sure why Kent was stepping away.

“I want to thank Buffalo Police Department Deputy Commissioner Dawn Kent for her dedicated service to the City of Buffalo,” Scanlon said in a statement. “Throughout my tenure in government, I have had a great working relationship with Deputy Commissioner Kent, and I wish her the best in her future endeavors.”

Acting Buffalo Mayor Chris Scanlon said in a press conference Monday that he and Gramaglia had differing philosophies and policing priorities.

Joseph Gramaglia resigns as Buffalo Police Commissioner due to “different priorities,” Scanlon says

“This morning, I was informed by Acting Mayor Scanlon of his decision that he was moving in a different direction and that I would no longer be serving as the Buffalo Police Commissioner,” Gramaglia said in a statement Monday. “Public safety has always been my top priority.”

Gramaglia’s resignation was going to take effect at midnight Tuesday and put him at his previous rank as captain, but WIVB News 4 learned that Gramaglia filed paperwork to retire instead.

“I had the conversation with him about heading in a new direction with the department,” Scanlon said in an interview with WIVB News 4 Wednesday. “During that conversation he decided he’d rather resign.”

First Deputy Police Commissioner of Operations Alphonso Wright has been named Acting Police Commissioner. Scanlon said he will submit Wright’s name to the Common Council for the permanent position.

Kent leaving the department is the third recent move in Scanlon’s administration. Buffalo Sewer Authority General Manager OJ McFoy accepted a position in November with the City of Houston Public Works. His last day working for Buffalo was Dec. 31.

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Katie Skoog joined the News 4 team in April 2024. She is a graduate from the University at Buffalo. You can view more of her work here.

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