Two BPD officers cleared of charges, returning to duty next week
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BUFFALO, N.Y. (WHEC) – Two Buffalo police officers accused of excessive force during a 2020 protest in Niagara Square are cleared of their charges.
An arbitrator cleared officers Aaron Torgalski and Robert McCabe on Friday. The incident happened on June 4, 2020.
The two officers pushed 75-year-old Martin Gugino who fell to the ground during a confrontation. The arbitrator, Jeffrey Selchick, said Gugino was definitely not an innocent bystander, and according to the evidence, the officers didn’t mean to cause injury.
Just about an hour ago, police officers shove man in Niagara Square to the ground (WARNING: Graphic). Video from: @MikeDesmondWBFO pic.twitter.com/JBKQLvzfET
— WBFO (@WBFO) June 5, 2020
John Evans, Buffalo Police said, "two good cops who initially got thrown under the bus are back to the profession they love and they’re doing it with a clean slate. No criminal charges, nothing administratively."
The officers are expected to return to duty next week