BUFFALO, N.Y. (WIVB) — The City of Buffalo began to honor Officer Craig Lehner on Wednesday, as funeral arrangements were being planned.
The announcement comes after Officer Lehner’s body was found Tuesday. He went missing six days ago during a dive training exercise.
A flag flew at half-staff on top of police headquarters downtown. The Buffalo Fire Department hung black and purple bunting outside the downtown station, and at the district headquarters on Bailey Ave. for the K-9 unit.
As memorials grew at Broderick Park, where the search was centered, the magnitude of this loss set in.
“He was just such a great guy, all around gentleman,” said Lt. Jeff Rinaldo. “It’s just such a tragedy.”
The nine year veteran of the force was recovered near Strawberry Island Tuesday by his own dive team.
“The members of the URT team are absolutely some of the best people on earth,” said Lt. Rinaldo. “They never stopped. They put emotions aside they got through it and they got their brother home.”
He told News 4 the team has now been given time off to grieve as the investigation continues.
The BPD homicide unit and NYS Public Employee Safety and Health Bureau (PESH) are both involved. Homicide detectives investigate every time there is a death in the city, it does not indicate foul play.
We’re told PESH involvement is standard protocol when any public employee dies.
“They’ll talk obviously to our team, to the person that’s responsible for training, records, how it’s done and then they will also be in consultation with different diving people, members of the Coast Guard, whoever they need to talk to get a full picture,” said Lt. Rinaldo.
The investigation into Officer Lehner’s death is not going to be quick, Rinaldo said.
“It’s going to be done right, but it’s going to be a slow process,” he said.
An autopsy was conducted at ECMC on Wednesday. According to Lt. Rinaldo, homicide detectives went to ECMC to start putting the pieces together, including what Officer Lehner was wearing when his body was recovered.
“I anticipate all of the ‘who, what, when and where’, those conversations will probably start after the funeral,” said Lt. Rinaldo. “When you’re talking about the Niagara River, 20 mile per hour currents, debris fields, there are just so many variables that go into that equation. We may never know exactly that happened down there.”
Officer Lehner’s K-9 partner Shield attended the press conference. K-9 Commander Sal Losi told News 4 that Shield knew something was wrong that day.”
“Those first few horrible hours he did seem like he was searching for Craig,” said Commander Losi.
The K-9 team has been keeping Shield active to reduce his stress.
“It’s our turn to put aside any emotions, we need to take care of a family member,” said Commander Losi. Shield will be evaluated and paired with a new handler but if that doesn’t work, he will be adopted.
Commander Losi said he embodies the best characterizes of Officer Lehner- professional, dedicated and loyal. The legacy he leaves behind.
Lt. Rinaldo expects the funeral will take place next week. BPD is working with his family on the formal police ceremony and wake. They expect thousands of people to attend.
Chief Dennis Richards is handling the arrangements. We’re told to reach out to him with questions, djrichards@bpdny.org.
MORE | Find out more about Shield’s fate here and see his appearance at the conference by clicking/tapping “Watch on Facebook” below:
