The Buffalo Police Department is disbanding its specialized Strike Force unit, effective March 12. The officers will be reassigned to the department's traffic enforcement division.
The Strike Force was established to tackle issues in high crime areas.
It has been under public criticism from activists who say its tactics, including road blocks, unfairly target minority neighborhoods.
.@BPDAlerts to disband "strike force" unit effective March 12. Officers will be reassigned to traffic enforcement. Told public criticism of unit did not play into decision. 'New commissioner, new priorities'. @WKBW
— Josh Bazan (@JoshBazan) February 9, 2018
The Buffalo Common Council requested detailed information about the department's checkpoints in the fall. The checkpoints are also the subject of an investigation by the New York State Attorney General.
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