Buffalo residents are hearing fresh concerns from their own elected officials about the city’s police staffing shortfall. Councilmember David Rivera, who chairs the Buffalo Common Council’s Police Oversight Committee, highlighted a sharp 65% increase in overtime used to meet minimum staffing requirements between fiscal years 2025 and 2026. Rivera described the trend as “alarming” and “concerning,” emphasizing that public safety should not rely on overtime alone.
Recruitment pause and its impact
According to Police Commissioner Erika Shields, the overtime surge stems from a three‑year pause in the city’s civil‑service police exam, the last of which was administered in 2023. The pause left the department without a fresh recruit class, forcing reliance on overtime to fill shifts. Shields said the department now intends to participate in the next statewide civil‑service exam scheduled for April 2027, hoping to replenish the ranks with new officers.
Council’s request for transparency
Rivera has formally asked the city’s Human Resources department to explain why the recruitment pause occurred and why the department has not drawn from an existing list of candidates who have already passed the city’s civil‑service exam. “We have a current list that hasn’t expired, and it’s still valid until 2027,” Rivera said. “The question I have is why haven’t we hired from that list?”
The councilmember also reached out to the mayor’s office for clarification on whether the list of qualified candidates has been exhausted. An HR representative is slated to discuss the matter at the council meeting scheduled for next Tuesday.
City’s response and recruitment efforts
In a statement provided to the press, the city highlighted several initiatives aimed at strengthening the Buffalo Police Department’s ranks. These include moving to the state’s biannual civil‑service exam to accelerate recruitment, collaborating with Erie County to identify eligible candidates for the next academy class, and creating lateral‑transfer opportunities for experienced officers from across New York. The statement affirmed the city’s commitment to getting more officers on the streets while ensuring that current personnel receive the support they need.
Context and next steps
The staffing issue emerges amid broader concerns about public safety in Buffalo. While the city works toward a new recruit class in 2027, council members and community leaders are urging faster action to address the immediate overtime reliance. Rivera’s oversight committee will continue to monitor the situation and hold the department accountable for meeting staffing requirements without over‑reliance on overtime.
Residents can expect further updates after the upcoming council meeting, where the HR department is expected to provide detailed answers regarding the recruitment pause and the status of the existing candidate list.
Original reporting: WKBW 7 Buffalo (Buffalo section) — read the source article.
