BUFFALO, N.Y. (WKBW) — Buffalo Public Schools released the results of an independent investigation after Buffalo police detective Richard Hy accused the district of cover-ups and obstructing investigations.
Hy made the original accusations on the Unsubscribe Podcast in April 2025. Shortly after, he spoke with 7 News Senior Reporter Maki Becker about why he decided to go public with his allegations. You can watch our reporting in the video player below and read more here.
WATCH: Buffalo detective accuses Buffalo Public Schools of failing to report abuse in viral YouTube podcast
"The Buffalo school system has been intentionally not reporting the assaults of students, sexual assaults between students and then has also used the Buffalo Police Department school resource officers to write reports and then had their influence over those officers," Hy said on the podcast. He accused attorneys for the school district of refusing to comply with subpoenas and also failing to cooperate with police in investigations.
As a result, the district hired Rupp Pfalzgraf LLC as a special independent investigator to examine the allegations.
WATCH: Buffalo Public Schools releases results of investigation after claims of cover-ups, obstruction
The district said the investigation included interviews with 66 individuals and an "extensive document review." Now, the results of that investigation have been made public.
The report says the investigation "revealed a complex landscape of challenges and opportunities within the District's approach to student safety," but did not find evidence supporting all allegations made in the podcast. Although the investigation did identify "significant issues requiring immediate and sustained attention."
In a release, the district said in part:
"While the investigation did not find evidence supporting intentional obstruction or systematic cover-ups, it identified systemic challenges requiring attention, including communication protocols, evidence-preservation procedures, training, and coordination between schools and law enforcement and related entities."
In addition, the report says that the district's safety challenges are "fundamentally systemic rather than individual in nature," and the February 2025 incident in which an Illinois man unlawfully entered a school and attempted to lure and abduct a student "served as a critical illustration
of these systemic vulnerabilities."
"The investigation confirmed that many dedicated professionals within BPS are committed to student safety, but they are operating within a framework that often impedes rather than enables their effectiveness. Teachers report feeling unsupported when raising safety concerns, security officers describe being underutilized as doormen rather than active safety professionals, and administrators struggle with outdated communication systems and unclear protocols. The recurring theme across all stakeholder groups is that individual dedication cannot overcome systemic deficiencies," the report says.
The district said the Board has received recommendations and is in the process of fully reviewing and prioritizing.
"Our recommendations, detailed throughout this report, focus on immediate priorities, systemic reforms, and institutional changes," the report says.
You can find the report below. The district said it has been redacted to protect student privacy, security information and other legally protected matters.
SCHOOL BOARD MEMBERS REACT TO THE REPORT
7 News Senior Reporter Eileen Buckley spoke with two Buffalo School Board members about the investigation.
"The main priority is just making sure our students are safe," said Stephon Wright, Ferry District School Board Member. "Personally, I've been working to make sure that our schools are safer and that all of our partner agencies are all on the same page with our head of Buffalo Public Schools' safety."
"I could tell you right now, every building is secure. There are security at every door. I was very impressed with what Ive seen," said Erik Bohen, Park District School Board Member.
Both school board members pledged to parents and school families that there will be changes to safety protocols at all school buildings.
"I'm going to do everything that I can to make sure that our students are safe," said Wright. "We'll go out there and listen to the community work with our community members, our community partners, to make things happen."
"What's your promise to the community, the Buffalo school community, moving forward?" Buckley asked.
"Our promise, as members of the board of education, is that every child in the City of Buffalo who attends a Buffalo Public School will be safe. That's our promise to every parent or guardian out there," replied Bohen.
PARENTS REACT TO THE REPORT
So what do parents think about this?
Many say they don't feel the redacted report revealed anything they didn't already know.
"The report doesn't really say anything," Edward Speidel said, President of the District Parent Coordinating Council. "I mean, what's under all those pages that are completely black the whole page?"
He worries that the investigators didn't get the whole story.
"People are scared to tell the truth," Speidel said. "We get phone calls from teachers all the time saying this is what's going on, but you can't use my name, you can't tell anybody I told you."
However, he's glad the district's acknowledging systemic problems.
"I'm just wondering what the superintendent will do to address them," Speidel said. "All we've asked is for them to follow their own policies; we have a code of conduct, just follow it and do what you say you're gonna do."
WATCH: Parents react to BPS investigation results