On July 18, 2021, Detective Richard Hy and other officers responded to a robbery call near Pennsylvania and Trenton Streets. Detective Hy arrived first, spoke to the victim, and drove him to the location to attempt to identify the suspects. Upon arrival, the victim identified several individuals, including a 14-year-old minor, as responsible for the robbery.

During the attempted apprehension, one individual threw a fanny pack containing a firearm to another, and both fled. Officer Frascatore apprehended one suspect and recovered the gun. Detective Hy returned to the scene and approached the minor, referring to him as “fat boy.” When the minor questioned this, Detective Hy grabbed him by the back of the shirt and pushed him into a police car.

Bystanders, including the 14-year-old’s family members, protested that he was a minor. Detective Hy responded aggressively, including yelling “I don’t give a fuck” and physically pushing multiple individuals: the minor's brother, father, and a bystander recording the incident.

The minor and his brother were subsequently arrested, with force used during the arrests. The situation became chaotic when the brother tried to open the police car door. Later, after securing another individual identified by the victim, Detective Hy shouted from his car window at the crowd: “You’re going to jail for robbery with a firearm, have a nice day!”

Internal Investigation and Findings

-The Internal Affairs Division (IAD) investigated the incident. Detective Hy was exonerated regarding allegations of excessive force but found to have violated departmental policies on discourtesy.

-The discourtesy violation was addressed at a Deputy Commissioner Conference with no further disciplinary action taken.

Independent Review Conclusions

-Discourtesy Violation: Detective Hy violated Chapter I, Section 2.13 of BPD’s Rules and Regulations. His use of the term “fat boy,” repeated cursing at bystanders, and taunting remarks unnecessarily escalated an already tense situation.

-Use of Force Violation: Detective Hy violated BPD’s Use of Force Policy, Section 6.2, which requires officers to use de-escalation techniques when practicable. His aggressive physical and verbal conduct toward bystanders unnecessarily escalated the encounter and led to avoidable use of force.

-Overall Conclusion: Detective Hy committed misconduct by violating department policies on courtesy and the use of force.

On June 19, 2021, Detective Richard Hy struck a motorcyclist with his patrol car during an attempted traffic stop. Hy had been following a group of motorcyclists for loud engine revving. When he tried to stop them, they evaded him by running red lights and crossing into oncoming lanes. Eventually, at a red light with no other motorcyclists present, Detective Hy positioned his patrol car ahead of the motorcyclist.

Surveillance and body-worn camera footage captured what happened next: Hy, after briefly deactivating his emergency lights, reversed his patrol car into the stationary motorcycle, causing the motorcyclist and his bike to fall. After striking him, Hy reactivated his emergency lights, exited his vehicle, handcuffed him and began searching him.

Throughout the interaction, Detective Hy was confrontational and discourteous, cursing at the motorcyclist and repeatedly questioning him without first issuing Miranda warnings, even though he was clearly in custody.

Hy’s written report inaccurately stated that the motorcyclist was moving forward and collided with his patrol car; however, Internal Affairs determined that the motorcyclist was stationary when struck. Detective Hy admitted during an internal interview that he reversed deliberately to prevent the motorcyclist from fleeing, although he denied intending to cause a collision.

Official findings regarding Detective Hy’s conduct

-Use of Excessive Force: Backing into a stationary motorcyclist was an unreasonable and excessive use of force under constitutional standards.

-Discourtesy: Detective Hy cursed at and berated Complainant 1, violating department rules.

-Violation of Self-Incrimination Rights: By questioning Complainant 1 without Miranda warnings while he was handcuffed and in custody, Hy violated constitutional protections.

Outcome

Detective Hy was found to have committed misconduct, forfeited 15 vacation days to resolve the disciplinary charges, and the criminal charges against Complainant 1 were later dismissed and sealed.

A lawsuit was filed in state Supreme Court, claiming that Hy intentionally backed his patrol car into the motorcycle at the corner of Delaware Avenue and Edward Street in June 2021. The city settled the lawsuit for $65,000.

An off-duty police officer, Richard Hy, hit and subdued a Black man having a mental health crisis until other police arrived. No charges were filed and Hy was not suspended.

CW: Officers beat and fatally shot Jose Hernandez-Rossy during an unlawful, racially-motivated traffic stop.

While off-duty, Buffalo Police officer Richard Hy harassed, head-butted, choked, and used a racial slur against a person who he felt was playing music too loudly. Hy was out partying with an off-duty West Seneca police officer when the assault happened.

Outcome

Hy appeared in West Seneca Court on a misdemeanor criminal charge of choking and a harassment violation. During his arraignment before West Seneca Town Justice Jeffrey M. Harrington, Hy pleaded not guilty to both counts.

Hy took a plea deal for Disorderly Conduct and was sentenced to 50 hours community services.

Hy was suspended while the case was pending and returned to work at this conclusion.

Richard Hy wrestled 29-year-old Parris Stevens to the ground and put his hands around his neck. Hy struggled on top of Stevens for several minutes as a woman repeatedly screamed, “You’re choking him!” and said the man’s eyes were bugging out from the cop’s force. Several other officers surrounded Hy and helped drag him from the sidewalk into a police vehicle.

Hy later claimed that he was not trying to hurt Stevens and was trying to save his life because he had swallowed drugs. Stevens was taken to the hospital and voluntarily threw up the drugs.

Outcome

BPD started an internal affairs investigation into itself. IA found the charges were unfounded and no disciplinary action was taken.

Officer Beyer and Officer Hy viciously attacked Gregory Ramos, dragged him into the yard threw him into a police car. Then Beyer approached Ramos laughing and told him that if his eyeballs fell out, that she would tape them back to his face, and that would be the only medical attention he would receive. Then Officer Beyer and Hy drove Ramos to a parking lot where he sat handcuffed for several hours until they drove him to central booking.