Buffalo, N.Y. (WBEN) - New York Gov. Kathy Hochul is considering referring the case of Erie County Sheriff's Chief of Narcotics, D.J. Granville to the State Attorney General over an alleged cover-up between Buffalo Police and the Sheriff's Office.
Hochul was asked about the case during an event in Niagara Falls on Monday.
"These calls just started a few days ago," said the governor while responding to questions from WGRZ-TV. "It's something I'm willing to have a conversation with my legal team, as well as the Attorney General's Office. But nothing has been decided at this point."
It's alleged that both Buffalo Police and the Erie County Sheriff's Office worked to conceal Granville's hit-and-run crashes last year that damaged several parked cars on Buffalo's West Side.
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Five Buffalo police officers who responded to the scene on the night of the crashes refused to cooperate in a recent investigation by Niagara County District Attorney Brian Seaman, despite being told they’re not under investigation.
Does the governor worry that lack of police cooperation could damage the public's trust in police?
"There are people who will always trust police, and those who never will," Hochul said. "You always want to do everything to keep that trust and that relationship with the community strong. It's the foundation of policing."
The governor went on to say these are troubling concerns.
"Let's find out if there's an appropriate role that I'm involved with and the attorney general as well. The door is not closed on that," she added.
Several lawmakers have asked Attorney General Letitia James to investigate the case, but a referral for a criminal probe is needed from the governor.
Granville pled guilty earlier this month to reckless driving and leaving the scene of an accident. He is currently suspended 30 days without pay by Erie County Sheriff John Garcia.