Buffalo, N.Y. (WBEN) - With Election Day set to take place Tuesday, law enforcement officials in the City of Buffalo are ready to provide security throughout the day at local polling places, and also into the evening once the election results roll in.
Buffalo Police Commissioner Joseph Gramaglia says the department has been preparing for Election Day well ahead of time with their local and national partners.
"On a national scale, local scale, we've run a couple of tabletop exercises that has involved the Board of Elections. No. 1 is an awareness, certainly being aware of where all the polling locations are," said Gramaglia in an interview with WBEN. "We've prepared and put guidance out to all of our officers and members of the department on some election laws, where the polling locations are. We've made our dispatch center aware of where the polling locations are, and we'll have a soft command post set up that way if there's any issues, any concerns, that they can be addressed through the chain of command and get to the proper side of the fence, if you will."
Gramaglia says there's a lot of nuances when it comes to election law, and his department will be ready to address when something rises to the level of needing law enforcement to get involved in.
This Election Day, Gramaglia says they've put together a plan more based on awareness and getting information out to officers, while also being prepared for any threat that may arise.
"We'll have some directed patrols around some of the polling locations, just so that people feel comfortable and there's no issues," Gramaglia said. "It's different when you have a large scale event like a Taste of Buffalo, and art festival, different things where you're going to have thousands or tens of thousands of people gathered in an area. The posture is different, but the awareness is certainly heightened."
Gramaglia and his staff have been in tune and involved on a national level with intelligence agencies around the country, and other police departments on what may be happening.
Part of the preparation for this year's Election Day is looking back on past Presidential Election Days in Western New York, but also looking at the current language and updated intelligence information that's out there.
"We have not seen any specific threats to our area, our area of jurisdiction. There's nothing that's coming our way, but that doesn't mean that you don't plan and prepare," Gramaglia said. "We have a response plan. We will have the appropriate people out where they need to be. Should there be a response necessary, we'll get to that right away."
When it comes to any potential concerns from the public this Election Day, Gramaglia feels it's more so the divisiveness of the country in general.
"It's unfortunate that that's where we are, but it's where we are," he said. "On the police side, it's our job to remain neutral and handle any issues that arise. I think there is definitely a fear amongst some people because of how divisive we are in society. Again, we just have to be prepared. We are prepared, we have our plans together, we've put a lot into it. And we will be prepared for, at least in our region, a safe election."
Over the course of Tuesday, while the polls are open and even after they close, Gramaglia asks anyone around polling locations if they believe there's anything suspicious going on, be sure to let officials know.
"Obviously call 9-1-1, call the police, notify the polling inspectors, the people at the locations. Do that dual notification, and make sure, the old saying, if you see something, say something, and then let us [figure] it out," Gramaglia advised. "If that's something for the elections folks to handle, then we'll let them handle it. But if it's something that rises to the level where police need to be involved, we will handle it appropriately."
And especially with the ferocity surrounding the Presidential Election, Gramaglia says the Buffalo Police Department will take any post-election demonstration that may arise as they come.
"There's First Amendment rights to be heard, to protest. Just like we do with any other protest, or whatever the subject matter may be, we will certainly respect people's rights to protest, so long as it doesn't turn criminal, does not turn destructive," he said. "We have plans for that as well, and if something goes in that direction, then we will certainly address it. But nothing is on our radar at this time, but we are monitoring that on a daily basis. And we talk with our state and federal agency representatives frequently about this, so something pops up, we monitor it, and we, we will respond accordingly."
Polls on Tuesday will be open from 6 a.m.-to-9 p.m. EST.