After two Buffalo cops were suspended without pay for shoving a 75-year-old protestor to the pavement, causing him to crack his head and bleed from his ears, the city’s entire Emergency Response Team has resigned.
“Fifty-seven resigned in disgust because of the treatment of two of their members, who were simply executing orders,” said John Evans, president of the Buffalo Police Benevolent Association. The emergency squad was formed in 2016 and is deployed in instances of mass protests or riots. WGRZ confirms that while these officers have resigned from the ERT, they are, in fact, still employed.
Footage of the Buffalo police officers pushing the elderly man to the ground began circulating on Thursday night. In the disturbing, violent clip, 75-year-old Martin Gugino, a well-known activist in the city, can be seen approaching a hoard of officers. The crowd of cops continues to charge forward, as two of them pushing Martin down, causing him to hit his head. These two officers responsible, one of whom has been identified as Aaron Torgalski, were suspended immediately by Buffalo Mayor Byron Brown. According to Mayor Brown, an investigation has been launched by Buffalo Police Commissioner Byron Lockwood.
As of Friday morning, Martin has been reported to be “alert and oriented,” though still in a “serious yet stable condition.”
