Councilman calls for AG investigation into Granville crashes

BUFFALO, N.Y. (WIVB) -- A Buffalo Common Councilman is urging the state’s top attorney to investigate a crash involving Chief of Narcotics D.J. Granville of the Erie County Sheriff’s Office that occurred in April of last year.

Niagara District Councilman David Rivera has penned a letter to New York State Attorney General Letitia James requesting an independent investigation into Granville. Rivera spoke to WIVB News 4 on Wednesday about his concerns regarding the investigation so far.

“There’s a cover-up here. What’s going on? Why aren’t we informed? Why do people have to FOIL the information? What happened? Is there footage -- body camera footage? We have no information at all,” said Rivera.

In April 2024, Granville allegedly crashed into six vehicles while on duty on Buffalo’s West Side, damaging a total of seven vehicles and causing nearly $60,000 in damage.

“The ball was dropped in so many different places on the day of the incident itself," Rivera said. "The report that was taken, who signed off on the report, what actions the police officers took or didn’t take -- did they follow procedures?”

Following the incident, the Buffalo Police Department issued three citations against Granville for leaving the scene of an accident. Additionally, five BPD officers were placed on administrative leave in connection with the case. The Buffalo Police investigation remains ongoing.

Now, Rivera says it’s time for further action.

“We need an independent body to come in and take a good look at this. People are just so conflicted -- friendships, county officials, political friends,” said Rivera.

As chair of the city’s Police Oversight Committee, Rivera has continued to press for accountability. Earlier this month, the committee adjourned a meeting before Buffalo Police Commissioner Alfonso Wright arrived 40 minutes late, and then the meeting reconvened. Rivera noted that the commissioner’s silence during the session raised red flags.

“The commissioner and his command staff could not answer next to nothing,” Rivera said.

He believes Buffalo residents deserve transparency and accountability.

“The general public sees things like this, they’re less likely to cooperate with the police department because they don’t trust the police department. It has been 15 months. The Niagara District Attorney is looking at this, but we need the State Attorney General’s Office to take a second look,” he said.

A spokesperson for the Erie County Sheriff’s Office confirmed that Granville remains on paid administrative leave. When asked for comment on Rivera’s letter, the Sheriff’s Office did not respond.

The Attorney General’s Office has also been contacted by News 4, and we have yet to hear back.