Buffalo Police officer Edward B. Wisniewski Jr of Fillmore Station. shot Stevenson McDuffie, a 16 year old Black boy, as he ran from a patrol car. He was shot in the upper right thigh and left shoulder. According to Officer Wisniewski and his partner, Officer Edmund Dukat, they were responding to a reported theft of a purse which contained $2.

Outcome

Two felony charges were placed against 16 year old Stevenson McDuffie—second degree grand larceny and attempted escape. McDuffie pled Not Guilty to the charges in his hospital room. City Judge Joseph Mattina, who went to the hospital for the arraignment set bail at $1,000.

Officer Wisniewski was put on temporary leave and was exonerated by Commissioner Felicetta of any wrongdoing. Felicetta turned his findings over to District Attorney Michael Dillion for presentation to a grand jury.

Community Response

Civil rights leaders and leaders representing CORE and NAACP demanded the suspension of Officer Wisniewski, called for a public hearing of the case, and criticized the handling of the case by Mayor Frank Sedita and Police Commissioner Frank Felicetta.

Donald R Lee, president of the NAACP, said the police department's investigation of the August 3 shooting "completely shocked the organization by its obvious attempt to whitewash the shooting." Samuel L Green, counsel for CORE, described the case as "police brutality" and charged that Felicetta's "private investigation" did not answer why the officer "had to shot McDuffie." Green said that Felicetta did not call for testimony of citizens who may have been witnesses to the shooting. David Collins, president of the Neighborhood(Ellicott) Advisory Council, Community Action Organization, said: "I feel if we don't take a stand on this, it will be the same thing over and over again." One leader urged that the incident be settled promptly before, "a powder keg explodes." The leaders approved a letter which was sent to Gov. Rockefeller asking him to investigate the case and authorized civil rights leaders to schedule picketing of City Hall to demonstrate their protest of the McDuffie case.

On Saturday, January 8, Vice President Hubert Humphrey visited Buffalo and during his stay spoke at a banquet at the Statler Hilton commemorating one thousand years of Christianity in Poland. His presence in Buffalo prompted local peace groups, under the sponsorship of the Buffalo Youth Against War and Fascism, to hold a demonstration in front of the hotel aimed at highlighting their opposition to the war in Viet Nam and particularly their opposition to certain public statements Vice President Humphrey had made in connection with the war.

The demonstration had been in progress for over an hour when four of the demonstrators left the line and entered the hotel "just to warm up.” Daniel Katz, one of the four who went to warm up, was approached by Buffalo Detective Joseph A. Schwartz and was told to leave. A scuffle and ensued and Katz was arrested for "refusing to accede to the reasonable request of an officer."

Katz later complained of rough treatment at the hands of please, both in the hotel and on the way to the station, and stated that Schwartz, who is in plain clothes, never identified himself as an officer and that Katz had never been informed that he was under arrest.

Katz was charged with disorderly conduct and attempting to enter the elevator in which Vice President Humphrey was riding. The judge on the case later dismissed the later charge on the basis of contradictory testimony of the prosecution witness. However, the judge refused the motion by a defense attorney Richard Lipsitz for dismissal on the grounds of conflicting prosecution testimony.

When asked his reaction after the trial, Katz stated, "I feel that the actions of the arresting officers were an intimidations of the peace movement, the civil rights movement, and any other movement which actively dissents from the status quo."

Katz was convicted on January 27 and fined $25.

Buffalo Police arrested 34 in a brutal raid in the William-Pine, East Ferry-Michigan area on the evening on September 11, 1954 in the largest anti-Black attack in years. The roundup was ordered by Commissioner Noeppel, allegedly because of complaints that loungers refused to break up and let pedestrians pass.

Eight of those arrested were youths from 16 to 19 years old. In court they were told by the tough-talking judge that now they would have a police record, which would go on their army service record or disqualify them for civil service jobs.

Among the police victims was a Black minister, Rev. Leroy Anderson, pastor of the Church of God in Christ, Lackawanna, and member of the Lackawanna City Planning Commission. Mr. Anderson, describing the high-handed Buffalo police methods, vile language, and brutality, said he planned to sue the city for false arrest. Mr. Anderson was about to enter a store when he was ordered into a patrol wagon with, "Come on, you go too, you bastard!" When he protested at the language, he was told, "When I get you to Number Six (the police station) I'll do more than that to you." He heard one of the other men arrested on the corner cry out when a policeman struck him.

Most of the other people reported similar treatment. The police hauled in about four loads, grabbing them at random off the street. One man was picked up as he got out of his car to ask a policeman what was wrong. Another was arrested on his way to work.

At the station, a cop told the people, "Just shut your mouth. If you're quiet, you won't get in trouble."

Outcome

The judge was just as vicious as were the commissioner and the police. He denied the Rev. Anderson the right to provide his own bail, committing him to a cell for the night along with the others who were arrested. The judge calling the people before him "bums," he told them that because of their conduct it was not safe for "respectable citizens” and "daughters" to walk down the street.

At the time of the arrests, aroused people formed until the crowd reached some 300. News of the police outrage spread quickly through the city and protests were heard in the Black churches the next day.

In the morning of Oct. 10. 1953 two young workers, Norman and James Daniels, were unmerciful beat of by six club-happy Buffalo Police Officers . . . a beating which continued in two police vehicles en route to the jail. Both men were hospitalized with severe injuries.

John Chrosniak, a striking street car conductor, was killed on August 2nd, 1992, when patrolman Edwin Sisson, guarding a Sycamore Street car, fired into a crowd. It was the 33rd day of streetcar strike and Chrosniak was part of a group of strikers who were throwing stones at the Sycamore Street car. Sisson shot into a crowd of about twenty people hitting Chrosniak and two others. Chrosniak was killed him almost instantly. Casimer Kiazewski (21) was shot in the heart. It us unknown if he survived. Harold Lang (12) was shot in the right leg.

Medical Examiner Earl G. Danser held an inquest before Chief Justice Woltz of the City Court a few weeks later and the officer was exonerated.

42 members of the Communist Party of Buffalo had been arrested by Buffalo Police, Mrs. Dr. Anna Reinstein, wife of Boris Reinstein, being the last victim. Mrs. Reinstein and 10 others were released on bail.

Frank M. Cassidy was ordered released by Justice Charles B. Sears on the ground that the information against him was not properly drawn up. But as Cassidy left the court he was rearrested on new information drawn by Walter P. Hofheins, of the District Attorney’s office.

The new information alleged that Cassidy “is feloniously and a member of a certain unlawful society commonly known as the Communist Party, organized and existing for the purpose of teaching and advocating the doctrine of criminal anarchy and among other things, the overthrown of organized government by force and violence.”

Buffalo Patrolman Charles Whitfield, of the William street station, shot and killed Wadislaus Einik, 22 years old, in the heart around 4:30 AM on November 27th, 1913 following a chase of half a mile.

Wadislaus and his brother John went to Andrew Kania's saloon at 1036 Broadway early in the morning where the Rosebud Social Club was holding a dance. John Wydro, 22 years old, who was the chairman of the arrangement committee told the men that they were not welcome and an argument followed.

One of the brothers allegedly flashed a revolver and shot Wydro in the leg. Patrolmen Whitfield heard the shot and ran towards the hall. As the Einiks ran from the saloon, Whitfield called for them to halt. While running away, it is alleged that the brothers and Whitfield exchanged fire.

After a chase through Gibson and Stanislaus streets, the men stopped in front of 873 Filmore Ave when the patrolman fired his last shot through Wadislaus's heart. He dropped to the ground and his brother bent over him. Then Whitfield knocked him unconscious with his nightstick. Wadislaus was taken to the hospital where it was found that he was killed instantly.