Dennis Delano is a Buffalo Hero
Dennis Delano is one of three Buffalo cold-case detectives, and he is the most recognizable law enforcement officer behind the recent release and exoneration of Anthony Capozzi and Lynn DeJac; two individuals who had been wrongly convicted of crimes they hadn’t committed. Delano looked at the evidence again, and followed up on leads that once led nowhere. Finally, and most significantly, evidence that was still being preserved was sent for DNA testing – something that didn’t exist in its present form in the 80s or 90s.
The DeJac saga has been a very difficult once to watch. First and foremost, a young girl with what seemed like a bright future was apparently brutally murdered. Between the accusations surrounding DeJac’s parenting, to the possible culpability of the immunized David Donahue, it is a sad story indeed.
Last week, Delano, who is not only convinced of DeJac’s innocence, but also of Donahue’s guilt, took crime scene video to Channel 2; something that he had apparently been forbidden to do. He spent a lot of his own time and money trying to clear innocent people’s names, and he doesn’t buy the “revised” autopsy report which lists the causes of death as a cocaine overdose and a head injury.
Scott Brown took some of the evidence to some forensic scientists to get their take on the case, and showed them the video Delano had obtained. Delano even took a day off to accompany Brown to Washington to meet with the scientists. This is a guy who wants to get to the truth.
For his efforts and his excellence and his openness, he has been suspended without pay.
Suspended by a secretive city administration that demands a freedom of information request for the most routine and insignificant of public records. Suspended by a criminal justice system that seems to want to squelch any inquiry whatsoever into the DeJac case.
WBEN has been hammering this story to high heaven the last few days, because Delano’s daughter called in to Sandy Beach’s show on Thursday to break the story, and Delano himself called in yesterday. Some suggest that it’s part of a cover-up, and that Delano has stepped on too many toes. Others suggest that Delano is not above the rules and must obey direct orders from his superiors.
Either way, this dedicated public servant deserves the benefit of a million doubts, and should be reinstated as soon as possible so that he can hopefully find still more innocent people to free.
Sign the petition to reinstate Delano, and to re-open the Crystallynn Girard case here.
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Excellent take, Alan.
Whether you’re a professor, office-worker, customer servant, fire fighter, administrator, or police officer, if you ignore your direct report, then their direct report, and then the boss, you should be prepared for repercussions, even if you are a Buffalo hero……
How could someone with so much police experience be shocked at being suspended for what looks like clear insubordination. Also, going out and whining to the Buffalo-naysayers on WBEN cannot have scored him too many points with BPD brass.
I heard just a few minutes of Delano’s appearance Saturday afternoon on Kathy Weppner’s talk show on WBEN. I guess DeJac was also on but during the brief time period I listened I didn’t hear her say anything.
There is so much more to this story.
It will be very interesting to see some “fresh” material become public in the coming days and weeks and watch the reaction of the BPD’s top administrators as well as Mayor Brown and the Common Council.
Stay tuned…
Enforcing the law isn’t supposed to be mixed with politics. Yet it’s there anyway.
If you do step on toes, you will pay for it. And sometimes all you have to do to pay for it, is just your job in an exemplary manner.
I wouldnt’ dream of guessing how THIS shakes out. But my heart goes out to the Detective. Anyone who has put on the tin has seen this happen to someone or it’s happened to them.
Sometimes rules have to be broken…and they always are! I saw the videos of the crime sceen on the news…so what?? How the hell would that hurt the investigation? The media needs to be more vocal in this issue. Take it to “national” TV…. This is so wrong what they’re doing to him. How in the HELL does that hurt and on going investigation is what I’d like to know? They gave immunity to Dennis Donohue…well he lied…so he loses it…end of story…he killed that girl and her mother spent 13 years in prison?
I say…Make more NOISE
I think detective Delano is being railroaded by the BPD! If you agree sign the petition!
http://www.petitiononline.com/WBEN930/petition.html
The more I think about this story the more I can NOT understand how the DA would come out & say that the Dejac girl died of a drug overdose (cocaine) when her mother was arrested because she had marks on her neck from strangulation? They gave immunity to a possible serial killer? And they’re just trying to cover their butts!
They should have to answer to the community on this one for sure. A man gets fired because he was only bringing out the truth?
I think the DA should get fired! And the Police Commissioner!
Does anybody remember the John Walker case? The case about 4 black teenagers who were charged with a crime where the police withheld evidence and gave one on the boys ‘immunity’ if he would say that they did the murder. The 15 year old boy, afraid of going to jail for life, confessed to a crime that he knew (and the police knew) they did not committ. Guess who was investigating this case before he was suspended? Yep, Dennis Delano and the now inactive Cold Case Squad. Guess who was the prosecuting lawyer in this old case? the current State Supreme Court Judge Timothy Drury! Guess who do not want this case reexamined? The Buffalo Police, The DA Office and the judge’s friends in law enforcement. This case is a smoking gun because the teenager who was scared and lied and confessed to the crime, tried to recant his testimony one year after the 1977 incident but was rebuffed by the police and was told that if he did not get out of town, they were going to rescind his immunity and put in jail for life. He fled to North Carolina where he still is today. I ask you, what police department give a potential murdere absolute immunity for testifying if the police believed that they were guilty? one would usually be offered a lesser charge in a plea deal.I believe the police did not want Delano working on this case because this would have made his record three in a row for exoneration of falsely convicted individuals. I am no conspiracy theorist, but I strongly believe that his involvement in the John Walker case got him suspended and away from the cold case squad where he would have gotten John Walker and his co defendants conviction reversed.This whole episode stinks to high heavens and there is more to it than meets the eye.
don’t believe everything you read about this guy. where is his support from the blue wall? frank clark has very little following in local law enforcement these days (including me) but he’s not behind this suspension. after all, mccarthy gibson was seen at a party for ken case, so how does his public support for clarks opponent mesh with the theory that clark and others are trying to silence delano thru the bpd administration? if you’ve followed the bike path case, the capozzi release and the girard case you will see that others are the critical players at crucial moments of evidence discovery and investigation. why or how delano has become the face, the voice of and the alleged mastermind of each case is very puzzling to those who’ve seen the work being developed into solid evidence. it’s seems that a manipulation of local media has reached a zenith with the suspension. look for him to retire or be terminated, he’s breached the rules so severely. as for facts, he was not granted permission to travel as a member of the police dept, he was actually awol that day he was in washington as he didn’t take a day off or check in with his whereabouts. that’s how blatant he was. you try that at your job and see where you end up? likely looking for other employment. he was granted great latitude in his job endeavors and he exploited that freedom for his own personal consumption. the cold case squad was hailed as a major success, a public relations coup by the mayor who created it and they soaked up all the great press they received. why would a media savvy mayor, who rules by good pr sink that ship intentionally? think about that people, the whole story is yet to be told and one side isn’t quite the angel they would lead you to believe.
I don’t know if Dennis Delano is an “angel” or not …. but I DO know that Frank Clark is a useless bag of wind !
I am a friend of delano’s and have worked with him on occassion and know for a fact that he was on his “normal” day off when he went to washington and if that wasn’t enough, i also know that he forgot that he had that day off, and called in for a personal day the night before by mistake!!!! why would someone like “marko” here blatantly LIE about something that can be proven? I also know that the alledged tape that was shown to channel 2 was absolutely NOT the actual crime scene tape that would be considered evidence!!!! It was a copy of a copy, the ACTUAL tape never left the custody of the evidence unit!!!!1 which can also be proven, so i ask you WHY would someone (including the Commissioner of Police)blatantly LIE about something like that? I have also been told that for all intents and purposes, the DA had closed the case as a “NON HOMICIDE”!!!!!! I ask you HOW can there be “sensitive evidence” WHEN THERE WAS NO CRIME IN THE FIRST PLACE??????????? THIS WHOLE SITUATION STINKS!!!!!!! IF THEY CAN SILENCE DELANO THAN THEY CAN VERY WELL GET AWAY WITH COVERING UP A MURDER!!!!!1 AND SINCE EVERYTHING DELANO HAS SAID IN THE PAST YEAR HAS BEEN PROVEN TRUE, THEN WHO IS SPREADING ALL OF THESE LIES AND INNUENDO’S??? I THINK THERE SHOULD BE AN INVESTIGATION INTO JUST WHO IS BEHIND ALL OF THESE “UNTRUTHS” AND COVER UPS!!!!!!
Its becoming a little tiring hearing many people talk about the situation with Delano as though he is most definitely going to be terminated. The commissioner himself stated that these are not grounds for expulsion but he will face some consequence. furthermore, the most recent hearing had come to the conclusion that Delano would either have to go back to work with full pay or remain suspended until they can come up with his punishment but also with full pay.I will agree that it probably wasnt the best move to go against direct orders, however, he came across this dna evidence and not one person would take him serious enough to look at it.as proven with the immunity that was granted to Donahue, the DA just wanted to close the case because they had more evidence pointing to Dejac than Donahue its using the smaller fish to catch the bigger fish. im not sure if this is some cover up or not but i most definitely agree that the case was handled incorrectly, even Jugde Buscaglia said that at the time of the original case there was dna evidence found inside crystallyns body and in her bedroom that the DA fought in attempt to set aside, now if you cant honestly tell me that, thats not a justification for Delanos action then i dont know what is
I wish Dennis Delano had been around when my daughter got murdered. The innocent man is still in jail and this happened in 1987. A reporter from NYC is trying to prove this guy innocent and the detectives are stopping her every step of the way. They messed up the investigation and just grabbed the first guy they saw and made him sign a statement. Man! Where’s Dennis when you need him?
I never met an honest cop until tonight on Dateline. We need many more
Dennis Delanos.
Frank Clark sucks, he needs to retire. Way to go Delano!! Wish there were more cops like you in Texas, not to mention everywhere!!!
Until prosecuters and the state realize that their job is to find justice, and not to beat the defense, there will never be justice. We’re seeing it over and over, the wrong person convicted and spending decades in jail. Why? It’s simply due to prosecuters feeling like they must win their case. That’s not their job, they have a very different duty compared to a defense attorney. Prosecuters are there to deliver justice. As soon as they realize that the defendant is innocent, or there are serious doubts as to their guilt, they are required morally and for the good of society to either suspend the case and order more investigation or dismiss the case…that’s striving for justice. Not this us vs. them bulls**t. It seems all they care about is the win stats. I guess a prosecuter with more wins has an easier and better chance of maing judge, or polital post in their carrer!
Police officers and firefighters make way too much money and recieve to generous retirement benefits. That being said, it figures that when I find out about a cop that deserves every penny that he makes, he is removed of duty without pay. The DA should be in jail or at least removed.
obviously the Buffalo bandits (clark, brown, et al) have run into a force they can’t stop…Dennis Delano! This guy is a God send for justice in a city that desperately needs it. Those archaic old boys clubs like the BPD, DA, and mayor’s ofice, need to get into the 21st century. The old days of covering up your scew ups and protecting your crooked buddies are over. The public have the most powerful tool of all time…the web!
He is a hero! He is the kind of police officer the community wants. Most police officers, lawyers, DA’s, judges, are DIRTY! This man is the role model for what my family wants to see in the community. Sure we want criminals jailed, but ONLY IF THEY COMMITTED THE CRIMES! And only if the PUNISHMENT FITS THE CRIME! In my opinion, a crime has been committed here, not by Lynn DeJac or her lovely daughter, BUT BY THE DA, THE INITIAL POLICE OFFICERS ARRESTING HER, AND ANY OTHER DIRTY COP ON THAT FORCE. THE COMMUNITY NO LONGER WANTS YOU OR THE SPANISH INQUISITION.
I just saw the story last night and all I can say is WOW. The DA and the police brass should be ashamed of themselves. People in these positions need to be for truth justice and the american way…not out for themselves and to close a case at any costs.
There is nothing worse in this country than to put an innocent person behind bars. Oh wait a minute…..there is….finding out that you put an innocent person behind bars and then not wanting to try and get them out….oh wait a minute….. there is something worse…..putting an innocent person in jail and giving the killer immunity from prosecution….oh wait a minute….there is something worse…suspending the one guy who had the integrity to put everthing all together and right several wrongs…..way to go Buffalo DA’s office and Police Brass….
Dennis Delano is not only a Hero, but a human being with a heart of Gold. It takes courage to stand up for what you believe is right. While the others ( they know who they are) wanted to sweep their mistakes under the rug, Mr. Delano not only got the dirt but power washed it, so the Truth had to come out. Innocent people were send to jail Anthony Capozzi, and Lynn Dejac because those who didn’t want to do their homework and do the job they are paid to do, only wanted to solve the case. Because of negligence, innocent women were killed by Sanchez that would of been prevented if they had arrested the right person. I hope those in Authority has learned their lesson, now Dateline has exposed for the world to see. Thank you Mr. Delano for your Bravery and Courage, I know GOD has his mighty hand upon you.
Delano: the end justifies the means. He did the right thing by getting two INNOCENT people out of jail. Sometimes you have to bend the rules. Frank Clark and your ilk: shame on YOU!
In cases like this where you have a corrupt system and ones in charge are trying to cover their own screw ups, you don’t have a choice. Delano and his excellent team of cold case investigators did the only thing they could…take it to the public. If they had to wait for the regular channels, Mr.Capozzi and Ms.Dejac would still be in jail, and probably never get out.
This DA appears to be singularly disinterested in Justice.
In response to chris (march 1st) Yes the man stuck his neck out to get to the truth which was being swept under the rug by the BPD and the lcal judical system. I dont think Delano actually cared about the potential risk that he was facing….the man was doing the right thing and pointed out a few flaws that local law and justice system ignore. Frank Clark (buffalo D.A.) is a show boater who loves getting his face on T.V. and in his mind could do no wrong. His final verdict about the Girard/Dejac case load of bull so that he can save face…again being swept under rug. Good Bye Frank Clark, and dont let the door hit you in the Rear End!
If all cops were like Dennis Delano, our judicial system would be truly working. It is a poignant comment about our judicial system, when a cop who is actually interested in justice has had so much adversity from within the system.
I can’t wait for Stachowski to get ‘das boot’ and watch a true hero like Delano become our new Senator.
If I were American I would vote for Dennis. I saw a show on the innocent lives he has saved and Dennis DOES NOT quit till he gets to the bottom of it. Americans need a very dedicated hard working never give up and for the real people in their government. Id be proud to have Dennis in Canada but he”s usa. Hes a real person solving real problems for the ordinary people. Hes done wonderful in getting the truth out.
WBEN radio created Dennis Delano the politician. His name for so long was mentioned almost every day on this radio. Detective Delano was being paid to be a detective, he did his job, thats all. If he wins the senate race he can thank WBEN.