“During my 27 years as a police officer, there has never been a claim or allegation against me of a racist nature. The statements in a press conference by attorneys representing Officer Brandon Hanks are a travesty. They reference a deposition from seven years ago in a lawsuit involving another individual from which I was removed as a party because there was no evidence that I engaged in any wrongdoing.
I am ashamed to have used certain language as a young teenager. It never occurred as an adult. Never has anyone in the community or the Syracuse Police Department accused me of using such terms. In the end, the only person who has ever claimed I said those words is me. To deliberately suggest otherwise is deceiving and outrageous.
Officer Brandon Hanks knows I have consistently supported him and have never made such statements toward or about him. Chief Buckner and I actually required the investigation that concluded there was no basis for the concerns raised about Officer Hanks by other officers. This is further evidenced by the fact that I was not named in the notice of claim against the Department. In fact, in my internal memo to Chief Buckner regarding this matter, I was supportive of Hanks. I wrote: “P.O. Hanks grew up in the Syracuse Community and as such he had associations in the past that should not be held against him now. Those associations are not current and did not occur while he has been a police officer. Furthermore, P.O. Hanks has conducted himself with a high degree of professionalism and work ethic minus the social media posts for which he was counseled and will be potentially disciplined. I concur with Lt. Patti and find that all of the other bulleted points in Capt’ Gays’ word document and memorandum have been addressed already or are unfounded.” I supported and still support Hanks’ opportunity to serve a 30-day rotation in the Gang Violence Task Force, an opportunity that has been presented to him and is still available to him.”
-Deputy Chief Richard Trudell
*Attached is an internal memo sent to Chief Bucker from Deputy Chief Trudell in regards to Officer Hanks. Trudell internal memo to Buckner
