Buffalo Public Schools Releases Investigation Results After Abuse Allegations

Report finds systemic challenges but no evidence of intentional cover-ups

Published on Mar. 1, 2026

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Buffalo Public Schools has released the results of an independent investigation after a local police detective accused the district of cover-ups and obstructing investigations into student abuse and assault. While the report did not find evidence supporting all the allegations, it did identify significant systemic issues that require immediate attention, including communication protocols, evidence-preservation procedures, training, and coordination between schools and law enforcement.

Why it matters

The investigation highlights ongoing concerns about student safety and transparency within the Buffalo school system. The findings raise questions about the district's handling of abuse allegations and its relationship with law enforcement, which could have broader implications for public trust and the district's ability to effectively address safety challenges.

The details

The investigation was launched after Buffalo police detective Richard Hy accused the district of intentionally failing to report student assaults and sexual assaults, as well as using school resource officers to influence police reports. The independent investigation, conducted by Rupp Pfalzgraf LLC, included interviews with 66 individuals and an extensive document review. While the report did not find evidence supporting all of Hy's allegations, it did identify 'significant issues requiring immediate and sustained attention,' including problems with communication protocols, evidence preservation, training, and coordination between schools and law enforcement.

  • In April 2025, Buffalo police detective Richard Hy made the original accusations on the Unsubscribe Podcast.
  • Shortly after, Hy spoke with a local news reporter about his allegations.
  • In response, Buffalo Public Schools hired Rupp Pfalzgraf LLC as a special independent investigator to examine the claims.
  • The investigation, which included interviews with 66 individuals and an extensive document review, has now been completed and the results have been made public.

The players

Richard Hy

A Buffalo police detective who accused the Buffalo Public Schools district of cover-ups and obstructing investigations into student abuse and assault.

Buffalo Public Schools

The school district that commissioned an independent investigation in response to Hy's allegations.

Rupp Pfalzgraf LLC

The firm hired by Buffalo Public Schools to conduct the independent investigation into Hy's claims.

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What they’re saying

“The Buffalo school system has been intentionally not reporting the assaults of students, sexual assaults between students and then has also used, the Buffalo Police Department school resource officers to write reports and then had their influence over those officers.”

— Richard Hy, Buffalo Police Detective (Unsubscribe Podcast)

What’s next

The Buffalo Public Schools Board has received comprehensive recommendations from the investigation and is in the process of fully reviewing and prioritizing them to address the systemic challenges identified.

The takeaway

This investigation highlights ongoing concerns about student safety and transparency within the Buffalo school system. While the report did not find evidence of intentional cover-ups, it identified significant systemic issues that require immediate attention, underscoring the need for the district to implement meaningful reforms to improve communication, evidence-preservation, training, and coordination with law enforcement in order to better protect students.