Gene Warner; News Staff Reporter
January 19, 2001, Friday, Final Edition
Copyright 2001 The Buffalo News
The Buffalo News
January 19, 2001, Friday, Final Edition
(CHEEKTOWAGA, NY) -- A pushing and shoving incident Wednesday night between two off-duty Cheektowaga police officers and employees of a popular restaurant-bar has led to an internal investigation that could result in departmental charges, police officials confirmed today.
Officers were called to Kahunaville in Walden Galleria late Wednesday to investigate a disturbance. No arrests were made, no punches were thrown, and no injuries were reported, according to Capt. Thomas Rowan and Lt. Cheryl Rucinski.
Police officials now believe up to five off-duty police officers were involved in the verbal disagreement but only two reportedly were involved in the pushing and shoving that resulted.
“We know there was some kind of incident that sparked it, and we know it turned into a disagreement between our guys and the bouncers,” Rucinski said today.
According to the preliminary police investigation, one of the off-duty officers did something, and a restaurant employee asked him to stop. When he didn’t, the employee asked him to leave, and the disagreement escalated.
Police say they believe the spat didn’t extend to any other customers in Kahunaville.
No police report was available on the incident, which was reported at about 11:30 p.m. Wednesday, but police officials were trying to determine exactly what happened.
“We’re doing an internal investigation and, depending on the outcome, the chief will decide the appropriate punishment, if any is warranted,” Rucinski said.
None of the police officers involved has a history of any such behavior.
“It’s a total shock,” Rucinski said. “These are some of our top officers.”