by NickleCity » Wed Nov 01, 2023 9:06 am
These letters are a bit different from the Dan Derenda's letter that he wrote on behalf of Gerace's his sentencing in his felony conviction.
Derenda was Deputy Commissioner for the Buffalo Police Department at the time. US Attorney Bruce had the following to say about this letter when the Buffalo new turned it up a year or two ago:
The News also raised the question with retired federal prosecutor Anthony M. Bruce, who brought the case against Gerace and a co-defendant.
“The only thing I see as inappropriate is that the letter identifies him as a police officer,” Bruce said. “Other than that, I have no problem with him or his wife writing a letter to support a family friend.”
As a criminal prosecutor specializing in organized crime cases for 38 years, Bruce said he read letters of support for convicted criminals written by people from many different walks of life.
He added that Derenda’s letter was the only one he ever recalls being written by a police officer in active service.
My question is, "What changed?" Police officers didn't write letters? Now all of a sudden the court get so many letters from RPD officers that RPD has to clarify their position?
...Of course Loewke was an RPD officer and Gerace was not, so maybe that is the difference. Still, seems inappropriate to me and makes me wonder if this type of letter from officers is more prevalent than Bruce led us to believe.
These letters are a bit different from the Dan Derenda's letter that he wrote on behalf of Gerace's his sentencing in his felony conviction.
[img]https://theblackhand.club/forum/ext/dmzx/imageupload/files/ea862209ec8f911551246bf88ccdc70a.png[/img]
Derenda was Deputy Commissioner for the Buffalo Police Department at the time. US Attorney Bruce had the following to say about this letter when the Buffalo new turned it up a year or two ago:
[quote]The News also raised the question with retired federal prosecutor Anthony M. Bruce, who brought the case against Gerace and a co-defendant.
“The only thing I see as inappropriate is that the letter identifies him as a police officer,” Bruce said. “Other than that, I have no problem with him or his wife writing a letter to support a family friend.”
As a criminal prosecutor specializing in organized crime cases for 38 years, Bruce said he read letters of support for convicted criminals written by people from many different walks of life.
He added that Derenda’s letter was the only one he ever recalls being written by a police officer in active service.[/quote]
My question is, "What changed?" Police officers didn't write letters? Now all of a sudden the court get so many letters from RPD officers that RPD has to clarify their position?
...Of course Loewke was an RPD officer and Gerace was not, so maybe that is the difference. Still, seems inappropriate to me and makes me wonder if this type of letter from officers is more prevalent than Bruce led us to believe.