December 12, 2000, Tuesday, Final Edition Copyright 2000 The Buffalo News The Buffalo News December 12, 2000, Tuesday, Final Edition
(BUFFALO, N.Y.) -- The Buffalo Police Department is losing two veteran officers -- a detective who turned out the lights for the last time at the Genesee Station and a captain who headed both the Vice and the Special Frauds squads -- to retirement this week.
Detective Ronnie Cook, appointed to the department in December 1967, has served his entire career at the Genesee Station, and its successor. He was promoted to detective in 1994.
When the old precinct house on Genesee Street was closed, Cook was the last officer to leave the building, and he was given the honor of locking the door to the building, which had not been locked since it had opened earlier last century.
Retiring after a 32-year career is Capt. James McCann, assigned to the South District. Promoted to lieutenant in 1975, McCann served as commander in Vice and Special Frauds before becoming a captain in 1996 and working in the Northeast District.
McCann, one of the regular weight-lifters in the police gym, plans on doing more fishing and hunting in his retirement.
“Both of these officers have had distinguished careers,” said Lt. Larry J. Baehre, the department’s public information officer. “They did an excellent job serving the citizens of the city, and they performed their duties without any fanfare. Their fellow officers will sorely miss them.”