Burke calls for comprehensive criminal investigation into Buffalo Diocese by New York State Police

Buffalo, N.Y. (WBEN) - State Assemblyman Pat Burke is calling on New York State Police to launch a comprehensive criminal investigation into the Catholic Diocese of Buffalo, arguing that the recent FBI arrest of Fr. Jeffrey Nowak on July 8 demonstrates the need for an independent statewide investigation into allegations of child sexual abuse, child exploitation, and any efforts to conceal those crimes.

Burke has sent a formal letter to Major Amie Feroleto, Commander of Troop A in Western New York, requesting the New York State Police assume a leadership role in coordinating state and local investigations, while serving as the primary liaison with federal authorities.

"I believe we've reached a point in this community, certainly in Western New York, where the recent case of Fr. Nowak has shown that the severity and significance of child sexual abuse and child sexual predation in the Catholic Church, in the Buffalo Diocese has to be addressed criminally," said Burke during a press conference Wednesday at his Buffalo office.

Burke was the first elected official to call for Bishop Richard Malone's resignation in 2018, more than a year before Malone ultimately stepped down. At the time, Burke warned that the public had only "scratched the surface of the problem."

"And I had hoped even then that I was wrong, but these recent events have proved that is truly the case," Burke said. "I'm calling on the New York State Police to take action, and to lead an investigation and not leave this to just local law enforcement, but to be an umbrella and bring law enforcement agencies together to pursue this as criminal activity, not just civil penalties."

Nowak - who Bishop Malone called a "sick puppy" back in 2019 - remained on the payroll of the diocese and lived in diocesan housing for different periods of time before his arrest.

"If you think about it, in this century, he is the first person who has been arrested for child sexual abuse, when we know for generations we have seen children become victims of an institution that has shuffled predators around. Part of the problem is the balkanized investigation process - each municipality having to address this in their own way, each police force addressing this in their own way - and the only reason we saw action when it came to Fr. Nowak was because the federal investigators were involved," Burke noted.

In his letter, Burke argues that the Diocese of Buffalo represents precisely the type of investigation that requires the resources and expertise of the New York State Police.

"We've seen in different regions state police getting involved, leading investigative units, and forcing change within the church and making criminal arrests. So I'm calling on the State Police to create a special investigative task force to address the issue of child sexual abuse in the Buffalo Diocese, and to hopefully take immediate action," Burke said.

Burke is asking the State Police to:

• Open a comprehensive criminal investigation into the Diocese of Buffalo.
• Coordinate state and local investigations to ensure every credible lead is pursued.
• Serve as the primary liaison with federal authorities to eliminate jurisdictional gaps.
• Consider establishing a specialized State Police investigative unit dedicated to institutional child sexual abuse and organized efforts to conceal it.

Burke says the proposed specialized unit would not be limited to investigations involving religious organizations.

"This proposal is not about the Catholic Church alone," he said. "Sadly, institutional child sexual abuse has occurred in schools, youth organizations, athletic programs, nonprofits, government agencies, and other institutions entrusted with the care of children. No organization - regardless of its size, influence, or public standing - should be beyond meaningful criminal investigation when evidence suggests children have been harmed or those responsible have been protected."

The Buffalo Catholic Diocese has released the following statement:

"As we have communicated repeatedly since federal charges were brought against Jeffrey Nowak, the Diocese is fully committed to providing federal investigators with any and all background and relevant information necessary for their full investigation and prosecution of his alleged crimes.

“Since 2019, the Diocese has forbidden Nowak to function as a priest within the Diocese of Buffalo. The Diocese is required by canon law to provide some level of financial sustenance to priests of the Diocese even if they have been removed from ministry. After Nowak was placed in federal custody, the Diocese eliminated that support. Bishop Fisher has also referred the latest charges brought by the FBI to the Diocese’s Independent Review Board and is in the process of petitioning the Vatican’s Dicastery for the Doctrine of the Faith to remove Nowak from the clerical state, a process known as laicization.

“The Diocese was not aware of any allegation against Nowak involving child pornography or the sexual abuse of minors before the FBI announced charges on July 9, 2026. The Diocese has adopted rigorous policies and protocols to address allegations of sexual abuse against bishops, priests, employees and volunteers of the Diocese, which include referring such allegations to law enforcement. Moreover, in the past three consecutive years, an independent auditor has determined that the Diocese is in full compliance with the adherence and enforcement of its policies and protocols.

"The Diocese pledges to cooperate fully with federal, state and local law enforcement officials in their investigation of Jeffrey Nowak and will provide any personnel information to ensure his full accountability according to the law for these heinous allegations."