BUFFALO, N.Y. (WKBW) — The 7 News I-Team has learned that Buffalo Police Captain Lashondra Roach is off the job, suspended with pay, as the investigation into an officer accused of murder continues.
53-year-old Lance Woods, a Buffalo police officer, was arrested and charged with second-degree murder after Lewiston police found his wife, 35-year-old Alexis Skoczylas, dead inside their home on Buffalo Street in Sanborn after conducting a welfare check.
Buffalo Police Interim Commissioner Craig Macy did not name Roach, but sources say she was involved in the welfare check call for Skoczylas.
The I-Team has learned that Roach also met with Officer Woods at the D-District police station hours after the alleged murder.
The Buffalo Police Department said it is conducting an internal investigation to determine whether departmental policies, procedures, and professional standards were followed.
"We do have some information that would lead us to believe there is some rules and regulations that may not have been followed but I will let that investigation play out," Macy said.
Macy also described how the welfare check unfolded.
"Check the welfare is being conducted at the D-Delta station house and [Woods] has kids, he brings them in there to have a discussion with the captain," Macy said.
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Woods left the station, on Hertel Avenue, a little later.
While the investigation against Roach plays out, the 7 News I-Team has obtained her internal discipline file, revealing that in her almost 20-year tenure, she was suspended without pay twice before:
- In 2016, documents show officers became involved in a physical pushing incident with each other
- In 2017, as a lieutenant, she accepted and worked an overtime shift when she was already scheduled for court
In total, she was off the job for four days without pay.
Roach has been on the job since January 2008. She has the same hire date as Woods. Macy would not say if the two were friends, nor if their conversation was recorded on body camera video.
According to court documents, Skoczylas filed for a contested divorce in September 2025.
Roach remains suspended indefinitely with pay. Woods is suspended without pay and is locked up in the Orleans County Jail, charged with murder. The Buffalo Police Union did not have a comment.
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