Buffalo, N.Y. (WBEN) - "Any loss of life in a homicide is horrible, but it hits particularly hard when you're talking about very young children. It's very traumatic for the officers who enter that home and have to see that type of situation," said former Buffalo Police Commissioner Joe Gramaglia on Monday's horrific quadruple homicide in Buffalo and Cheektowaga.
Four people were killed in the killing spree on Monday: A young mother, two boys - ages 3 and 4 - and a 43-year-old man.
For far too long, Gramaglia says officers just dealt with it. They didn't talk about it. That's not the case anymore.
Fortunately, he said there are more resources today than ever before in police departments.
"In May of 2023, we appointed our first ever Wellness Officer who's sole purpose is to look out for the welfare of the officers."
In any type of loss of life call involving children, or traumatic incidents, the Wellness Officer actively reaches out to the officers. It's not just Buffalo Police but police agencies work together in offering the assistance.
Gramaglia said officers are much more open to talking.
Monday's homicides happened in the middle of the day. In the last couple of weeks there has been a spike in daytime violence. Recently, a Buffalo Police officer was stabbed. Another officer was shot. The May 14, 2022 mass shooting at Tops happened at 2:00 in the afternoon.
Is Gramaglia surprised to see so much violence in broad daylight?
"There's a misnomer that this stuff doesn't happen until the sun goes down. Things happen during the daytime shift," he said. "Thank God we have excellent police officers that respond."
"For far too long, officers just dealt with it. They didn't talk about it. That's not the case anymore" - Joe Gramaglia
"For far too long, officers just dealt with it. They didn't talk about it. That's not the case anymore" - Joe Gramaglia
