Author: Community Administrator

BY THAD GREEN CITY OF BUFFALOPUBLISHED AUG. 21, 2022

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Buffalo Police Officer Niko Davis, who recently became the new executive director of the Buffalo Police Explorers, remembers one of his highlights during his days in the NFL.

At a Pittsburgh Steelers practice, the defensive lineman lined up against the star-studded offense that included Ben Roethlisberger, Le’Veon Bell and Antonio Brown.

Davis dropped into zone coverage and intercepted Roethlisberger. He did not get the chance to run the ball back for a pick six, however, as he was promptly tackled by Pro Bowl tight end Heath Miller. 

“It was mind-blowing,” said Davis, 32.

Davis did not stick around in the NFL for 10 years like he hoped. He never got to play in a regular-season game. But he took the discipline required to play high-level football and used it to become a successful police officer.

“Discipline equals freedom,” Davis said. “Having discipline is the avenue to anything you want in life.”

After only 2½ years as an officer, Davis was introduced as the leader of the Explorers at the National Night Out event on Aug 2.

The program takes a group of 14- to 20-year-olds and gives them guidance and direction, all while teaching them about law enforcement. This year’s edition begins Sept. 6, and recruits can apply before Tuesday. 

“We’re going to have students from wealthy backgrounds to impoverished backgrounds, from very good school systems to very poor school systems,” Davis said. “We’re here for one common goal: to go through this experience to grow and learn and to set all our differences aside.”

Davis relishes the opportunity to serve in his hometown. He said after living many places, Buffalo is still his favorite.

“I don’t love any place more than I love Buffalo,” Davis said. “I just have so many pockets and communities of people that I know and have connected with.”

While he was growing up, Davis was involved with church, a dance team and a drama team. He did not play organized football until 10th grade, when he joined the team at Lafayette High School.

He had the physical stature and grades to interest football programs at UB, Syracuse, Princeton, Harvard and Dartmouth, but did not receive any offers because of a lack of knowledge about the recruiting process. Davis did not even possess any game film for coaches to work with. 

“I didn’t understand anything, I really genuinely didn’t,” Davis said. “I just didn’t have someone to coach me through it.”

After high school, Davis attended an “organized gap year” program in Fort Myers, Fla. The purpose of the program is to give young people guidance and do outreach. If participants decide to stay for a second year, they become part of the leadership team and help first-year students.

During Davis’ second year with the program, he met a first-year student whose dream was to be a college quarterback. Davis ran routes for the aspiring QB, and the duo started playing pickup games in parks against random guys: sometimes tackle, sometimes two-hand touch.

“If he and I were on the same team, it was ‘Murder, She Wrote,’ ” Davis said. “We ran through the city. They called us Tim Tebow and Vernon Davis and were like ‘nope, separate them.’ “

In February 2010, the two took a weekend visit to Liberty University for a prospective students event.

“I couldn’t believe it; it was the biggest campus I had been on,” Davis said.

After checking out the football team, Davis enrolled at Liberty as a regular student, but made the football team following walk-on tryouts. After a successful college career, Davis went undrafted in 2015, but signed with the Steelers for training camp.

Davis performed well until an injury set him back. The Steelers placed him under the waived/injury designation, which meant the team would release him once he became healthy.

“I was pretty bummed to hear that, but at the same time it was encouraging,” Davis said. “I felt like I competed well playing against guys who were on multiyear contracts.”

Davis signed with the Kansas City Chiefs in 2016, but did not make the 53-man roster. From there, Davis turned his attention to being a police officer, which had been a longtime interest of his.

“I have a lot of brothers, and all us have always been kind of fascinated with uniformed officers, whether it be military, G.I. Joe types or police officers,” Davis said.

When Davis and his brothers were younger, they would attend the car show at the Buffalo Niagara Convention Center and ask questions of the state troopers in attendance. Three of Davis’ brothers later joined the Army. Another brother took the civil service exam with Davis, but decided to continue working at General Motors.

Davis joined the Buffalo police force in January 2020, not long before protests and riots increased tensions between police and the public for much of the year nationwide. In 2022, he has a more positive outlook on police and community relations.

“What I’ve seen thus far in my career is that most people are willing to talk with you, are willing to level with you,” Davis said. “If you can just talk to people like regular humans, they’ll usually talk back, and you can kind of find some common ground.”

Davis was in Florida at the time of the mass shooting at the Tops Market on Jefferson Avenue. He returned the next day, ready to do whatever he could to help his fellow officers.

“To be quite frank, we were fired up; we wish we could’ve been there when that guy showed up,” Davis said. “We wish instead of preying on innocent people, that guy ran into someone who was prepared to encounter him.”

Davis admires the resolve of Buffalonians months after the shooting.

“The community has shown itself to be resilient beyond words,” Davis said. “Everyone has come together from all different beliefs, backgrounds and walks of life to do what we can to make this right.”

Davis said he wants his Explorers recruits to view police officers as regular people and spread that message.

“This whole program falls under the umbrella of humanizing the badge,” Davis said. “When you see an officer in uniform with all the bells and whistles and all their gears, sometimes it feels like ‘whoa, that’s a uniformed officer,’ and you don’t feel like that person can have common ground or levity with you, but they can.”

View the full article: From NFL to the force: Niko Davis tackles new role as head of Buffalo Police Explorers | The Buffalo News

BY BREANNA FUSS CITY OF BUFFALOPUBLISHED 6:09 AM ET JUN. 08, 2021

BUFFALO, N.Y. — As a child, we’re taught to not judge a book by its cover. This story is the perfect example of that.

It’s the story of a young woman who grew up in Puerto Rico. It left her terrified of police after seeing how her friends and family were treated. Fast forward more than a decade and a move to the Queen City, she’s now part of Buffalo Police’s Explorer Program and has developed an unlikely relationship with the head of the department’s K-9 Corps. 

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What You Need To Know

Lt. Liz Baker, head of BPD’s K-9 Corps, helps aspiring officer get her permit 
Soie Rosario is part of the Explorer Program and caught a ride home with Lt. Baker that changed her life 
Rosario hopes to be part of BPD’s K-9 Corps one day

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Meet Lt. Liz Baker and her K-9 Paddy. When they aren’t patrolling Buffalo, they’re either training with the rest of the corps or connecting with people.

“We want to help,” Lt. Liz Baker said.

It’s an aspect of policing we don’t really see.

“The reason why you heard about mine is because I am always on social media,” Baker said.

And that is exactly where we found this story.

“Ok, so being a cop isn’t all about arresting people,” Baker said in a TikTok video. “It’s about helping people.”

In the driver’s seat of her cruiser, Baker and her K-9 companion anxiously waited to see if Buffalo Police Explorer Soie Rosario, who is seen dueting the TikTok in an Instagram post, got her permit.

“She’s had some difficulty online, with the transition of COVID-19, trying to get her DMV test,” Baker continued in the video.

Their story appropriately started with a car ride.

“I grew up thinking police officers were really bad people, so meeting somebody with my same experience, was kind of amazing,” Rosario smiled.

The 20-year-old is from Puerto Rico. This is her first year in the explorer program. She’s found herself right where she wants to be now and in the future, with the K-9 Corps.

Lt. Baker and the rest of the team are more than happy to lend a paw, or two. 

“We are absolutely ecstatic to help, they love knowing we get out there,” Baker said.

Rosario is walking away with two lessons far beyond policing.

“Make sure you keep your confidence in yourself, and never die on the dream,” Rosario said.

And also, there’s more to police beyond the badge.

“They’re human,” Rosario added.

And, we should probably share the happy ending to that now-viral video…

“Did she pass, we just heard she passed,” Baker said in the video. “We are so excited to be part of this adventure in her life.”

“I was really thankful, that one ride changed my life,” Rosario said.

So here’s the catch, as well as working to get her license so she can get one step closer to becoming a police officer, Soie needs a car. It’s been tough for her to get her hands on and hopefully, someone will be able to help.

This story was shot a few weeks ago and since then, Buffalo Police Officer Jonathan Negron was critically injured on duty. Officials say he is still in critical but stable condition at ECMC.

Lt. Baker and the entire K-9 Unit say they’re wishing Officer Negron a quick recovery and are thinking of him and his family.

View the full article: BPD lieutenant serving beyond the badge, helping others | Spectrum News

Buffalo Police are looking for young people interested in joining the department’s Buffalo Police Explorer program.

Explorers are mentored by police officers and foster a relationship between police and young people in the city. The program provides opportunities that promote leadership, confidence, self-discipline, and community service while developing an awareness of the purpose, mission and objectives of law enforcement and the Buffalo Police Department.

The Larkin Commerce Center has donated space for the Explorers to meet through 2021. “The City of Buffalo has to come together during these hard economical times,” said BPD Commissioner Byron Lockwood. “The Buffalo Police Department and Buffalo Police Explorers have raised the awareness of this dire need in our community and I want it to inspire our youth to join the Buffalo Police Explorers this year. I also want to extend a thank you to the Larkin Commerce Center for donating meeting space for Buffalo Police Explorers this year.”

Applications are being accepted through Friday, Februray 12 and the 16 week program starts on February 16. Applicants must be between the ages of 14 and 20 and live in the city and must commit to meet 1-2 times a week.

Young people interested in joining the Explorers can find an application here.

View the full article: Buffalo Police looking for Explorer recruits | wgrz.com

Larkin Commerce Center donating space to Buffalo Police Explorers through 2021

The Buffalo Police Department, along with Buffalo Police Explorers (BPE), worked hard in 2020 to make a difference across Buffalo and is now recruiting BPE for 2021. The Larkin Commerce Center has taken notice of that work and donated space for the Buffalo Police Explorers to meet through 2021.

Applications for BPE are being accepted until Feb. 12 for the 16-week program that starts Feb. 16.

Explorers get mentored by volunteer Buffalo police officers. Applicants must be between the ages of 14 and 20, live in the City of Buffalo, and must commit to meet one or two times a week. Leadership positions are elected by peers.

BPE adviser and BPD officer Joelle Bence urged the youth within the City of Buffalo to apply to build strong leadership and mentorship skills.

“Buffalo Police Explorers have a strong presence in the local community and we want to build on their work in 2021,” Bence said. “The explorers are setting the example on how to build unity, safety and trust in the City of Good Neighbors.”

Buffalo Police Commissioner Byron W. Lockwood said he is proud of how the BPD instills the value of community service. He said getting involved in community service on a daily basis will go a long way within the community.

“The City of Buffalo has to come together during these hard economical times,” Lockwood said. “The Buffalo Police Department and Buffalo Police Explorers have raised the awareness of this dire need in our community, and I want it to inspire our youth to join the Buffalo Police Explorers this year. I also want to extend a thank you to the Larkin Commerce Center for donating meeting space for Buffalo Police Explorers this year.”

Those interested can apply at buffalopoliceexplorers.com. Watch the Buffalo Police Explorers in action.

About Buffalo Police Explorers

Buffalo Police Explorers fosters a relationship between Buffalo Police Department officers and youth in the City of Buffalo by providing opportunities that promote leadership, confidence, self-discipline and community service, all while developing an awareness of the purpose, mission and objectives of law enforcement and the BPD. Learn more at buffalopoliceexplorers.com.

he Buffalo Police Department is looking for recruits for its youth Explorers program that begins Feb. 16.

The program is designed to “foster relationships between Buffalo police officers and youth in the City of Buffalo by providing opportunities that promote leadership, confidence, self discipline and community service,” according to a flyer for the program.

Applicants must be city residents between the ages of 14 and 20 and must commit to meeting once or twice a week for the 16-week program.

Applications are due by Friday, Feb. 12.

For more information, go to buffalopoliceexplorers.com.

View the full article: Buffalo Police Department looking for recruits for Explorers program | Local News | buffalonews.com

 Buffalo Police along with Buffalo Police Explorers helped make the season bright for others in the community.

On Wednesday afternoon they wrapped presents for a foster family that they adopted this season. Those gifts will be delivered by Christmas.

“Putting others’ needs in front of your own during tough and tragic times goes a long way in bringing together a community,” according to Joelle Bence, the Buffalo Police Explorers advisor and a Buffalo Police Officer, in a statement.https://8f727e5519eca04ebfe4978c91aef8a9.safeframe.googlesyndication.com/safeframe/1-0-37/html/container.html

“These officers and Explorers are setting the example in how helping even one family can bring unity, safety, and trust in the City of Good Neighbors.”

Buffalo Police and the Explorers also handed out coats and socks during an event Wednesday evening at the Ferry-Fillmore District Station on East Ferry Street.

“The City of Buffalo has to come together during these hard economical times,” Buffalo Police Commissioner Byron Lockwood said in a statement. “The Buffalo Police Department and Buffalo Police explorers have raised the awareness of this dire need in our community and I want it to inspire every citizen to do their part this holiday season and beyond.”

Read the full article: Buffalo Police wrap presents for foster family, hand out clothes | wgrz.com

Displaying commitment to Buffalo community

Buffalo Police and Buffalo Police Explorers (BPE) have worked hard this holiday season to make a difference to families across Buffalo. BPE will be getting together at North East District (2767 Bailey Ave.) to finish wrapping presents Wednesday for the foster family they adopted this season. The gifts will be delivered to the family in time for Christmas.

Buffalo Police Explorers adviser and BPD Officer Joelle Bence said she strongly believes in helping families within the community – especially during the winter season. Bence said she hopes the Buffalo Police and BPE will encourage others to help those less fortunate during these difficult times.

“Putting others’ needs in front of your own during tough and tragic times goes a long way in bringing together a community,” Bence said. “These officers and explorers are setting the example in how helping even one family can bring unity, safety and trust in the City of Good Neighbors.”

To keep community members warm this winter, Buffalo Police and BPE recently held a coat and sock drive called “Spread The Warmth,” which produced hundreds of coats and socks. The drive collected gently used coats and many brand-new coats purchased by BPD personnel. The drive even inspired executive director of Kids Event Tickets, Dean Gallagher, to donate $800 in gift cards for Buffalo Police Explorers and their advisers to shop for coats and socks for the drive.

Coats and socks have been picked up by employees of organizations such as Haven House, children’s service agencies and other organizations around Buffalo. On Wednesday, Brian Pilaski, executive director of the Seneca-Babcock Community Association, will hand out the remaining items at Fillmore-Ferry District at 693 East Ferry St.

The Buffalo Police Explorers also helped wrap a car full of toys with BPE board members for Buffalo’s youth this holiday season. The toys were donated to the Buffalo Police Department by the Shotgun, Law Enforcement Motorcycle Club (Shotgun LEMC) of Buffalo, which began collecting toys in November. Frontline officers in the northeast districts will hand the wrapped presents to kids they see along their path this holiday season.

“This is more than giving away toys – this is about spreading the spirit of giving amongst the entire community, adults and children,” Bence said. “Once we have established that sense of compassion within our community, we can join together more than we know.”

Buffalo Police Commissioner Byron W. Lockwood said he is proud of how the BPD instills the value of community service in Buffalo. He said he believes getting involved in community service on a daily basis will go a long way within the community, and working with other groups such as Shotgun LEMC of Buffalo is a great way to make a difference.

“The City of Buffalo has to come together during these hard economical times,” Lockwood said. “The Buffalo Police Department and Buffalo Police Explorers have raised the awareness of this dire need in our community, and I want it to inspire every citizen to do their part this holiday season and beyond.”

Buffalo Police Explorers fosters a relationship between BPD officers and youth in the City of Buffalo by providing opportunities that promote leadership, confidence, self-discipline and community service all while developing an awareness of the purpose, mission and objectives of law enforcement and the Buffalo Police Department. Learn more at buffalopoliceexplorers.com.

View the full article: Buffalo Police, Buffalo Police Explorers spreading holiday spirit throughout City of Good Neighbors (wnypapers.com)