Dennis Delano, the Buffalo police detective and one-time political candidate, was found guilty of violating police department rules, Commissioner H. McCarthy Gipson said Tuesday.
Delano has been on paid suspension for more than year. He released evidence in a cold case to the news media without department permission.
"It is the recommendation of the hearing officer that he be assessed a penalty of 60 unpaid days suspension," Gipson said, adding that he will go along with the recommendation when he meets with Delano and a hearing on Thursday morning.
Once he serves his punishment, Delano will be welcomed back to the force, "with open arms," Gipson stated.
"I welcome all members of the Buffalo Police Department who are off-duty to return to duty," he said.
But Delano is considering retirement instead of returning to the force, said his attorney Steven Cohen.
"He is considering retirement. The fact that the city insisted on prosecuting him has so offended Detective Delano," said Cohen, who plans on appealing the case on behalf of his client.
Delano received notoriety after solving several high-profile cold case murders and was credited the release of two people who had been wrongly convicted of crimes.
Anthony Capozzi served about a decade behind bars for rapes he did not commit. Evidence used to release him eventually led police to another suspect, Bike Path Rapist and Murderer Altemio Sanchez.
Delano also played a vital role in the release of Lynn DeJac, who had been imprisoned after being found guilty of killing her young daughter Crystallynn Girard.
Delano was praised for his efforts and became somewhat of a celebrity.
But the Girard case would eventually lead to Delano's downfall. After former Erie County District Attorney Frank Clark ruled Girard's death was caused by an accidental cocaine overdose, and not homicide, Delano pursued the case and tried to re-open it.
He released evidence from the case to the news media, despite the objections of his superiors.
He was immediately suspended without pay for 30 days. That was in February of last year. Since March of 2008, he's been getting a paycheck.
During his time off, Delano made a run for political office. He launched a campaign for a state senate seat as a Republican. He lost.
Since then, Delano has had plenty of time to ponder his future.
Eyewitness News contacted Dennis Delano, but he declined comment.
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