Following a prayer vigil and call for peace in Buffalo's City Hall Friday afternoon, police officials confirmed that investigators are probing "credible threats" of harm to members of law enforcement.
Several elected officials and representatives of Buffalo's religious community gathered to join in a prayer vigil, in response to last night's slayings of five Dallas police officers.
Upon the conclusion of that vigil, Buffalo Police Commissioner Daniel Derenda stepped forward to confirm that law enforcers were investigating what he deemed "credible" threats of violence against officers. He would not go into details, saying only that they were following social media and other sources. He then announced some of the measures taken in response to those threats.
"Until further notice, you will see two men in every Buffalo Police car," Derenda said. "We also issued some off-duty recommendations, that our officers do not wear any clothing with insignias, and we also request that they do carry off-duty firearms."
Outside City Hall in Niagara Square, tents were being assembled in advance of this weekend's annual Taste Of Buffalo. Derenda says police have unique security plans for every public event but would not disclose details.
When asked about the general relationship between police and the public, Derenda suggested it's a good one overall. Mayor Byron Brown backed that up.
"This is something that we work on, on a constant basis," Brown said. "Just like with any relationship, a relationship has to be nurtured. We meet with the community on an ongoing basis. We partner with community-based organizations."
One of those organizations, Buffalo Peacemakers, had several representatives present at the City Hall prayer vigil, which Mayor Brown said just one of many nationwide organized at the request of Dallas mayor Mike Rawlings.
