BUFFALO, N.Y. (WKBW) — The Buffalo Public Schools BOE unanimously approved the hiring of Rupp Pfalzgraf LLC, as the special independent investigator to examine harassment and assault allegations.
Buffalo police detective Richard Hy previously accused BPS officials of covering up abuse allegations and obstructing police investigations.
Hy made the original accusations on the Unsubscribe Podcast in April, and he previously spoke with 7 News about why he decided to go public with his allegations. You can read more here.
The Buffalo Board of Education held a special meeting on April 28 and responded to the allegations, saying it was initiating an independent external investigation.
The board voted on a resolution Wednesday night, unanimously approving the hire of Rupp Pfalzgraf LLC as the special independent investigator.
WATCH: BPS board approves law firm to investigate abuse claims on podcast
The Buffalo-based law firm will be tasked with conducting "a fair, equitable and thorough investigation of the allegations" as well as any related allegations that came to light as a result of Hy's allegations.
7 News anchor Pheben Kassahun sat down with BPS Board of Education President Dr. Kathy Evans-Brown ahead of the meeting to learn more about this important decision.
WATCH: 'We're comfortable with our selection': BPS board to vote on law firm to investigate abuse claims on podcast
"We looked at integrity, we looked at experience, we looked at the framework and the methodology that firms would be using, cost was a factor as well," Evans-Brown said.
According to Dr. Evans-Brown, Rupp Pfalzgraf was selected from 14 applicants as the best contender for this investigation.
The firm, founded in 2000, is headquartered in Buffalo but serves the greater Western New York and Albany area.
When asked if she was confident the firm could conduct an unbiased investigation, Evans-Brown expressed full confidence.
"Absolutely, all of the firms had to come up with a conflict of interest, and if it was a conflict, they had waivers, etc." Evans-Brown said. "So we are confident that Rob will be non-biased in this investigation. We're comfortable with our selection, and you know, as I mentioned, we will not be talking any further about it. We're confident that they will conduct a thorough, impartial, non-biased investigation."
Pfalzgraf has experience with high-profile cases, including environmental cases like the Love Canal tragedy and the Hyde Park Landfill case. Importantly, the firm has also handled sexual harassment cases, including one involving the leader of Servotronics, Inc. in Elma.
Evans-Brown indicated that the investigation would likely include reviewing recordings, videos and other materials, though no specific timeline has been established for the investigation's completion.
The board also passed an amended cost estimate. It will pay $425/hour for work performed by partners, $295/hour for work performed by associates and $150/hour for work performed by paralegals. The preliminary cost estimate is a range between $45,000 and $60,000.
This amendment is an increase from the original $295/hour with a total cost of approximately $52,500 that was originally proposed.
"The Buffalo Board of Education has voted to authorize Rupp Pfalzgraf LLC as a Special Independent Investigator to conduct a fair, equitable, and thorough investigation of the facts leading up to, arising from, surrounding, and resulting from allegations made by a Buffalo Police Department detective in a podcast. The Special Independent Investigator will have full authority to review all relevant information and conduct interviews as needed. As the safety and security of our students and staff remain a top priority, it’s important to stress that the Buffalo Public Schools maintains a close and professional relationship with the Buffalo Police. While the Board of Education will share the findings of the investigation publicly, we will not be commenting further until the Special Independent Investigator has completed their work."
7 News took a closer look at two cases that Hy highlighted in the original podcast. You can read more here.
Hy has since appeared in more national podcasts, slamming the school district for not responding quickly to his original allegations. He appeared again on the Unsubscribe Podcast and also appeared on the Black Rifle Coffee Podcast, where he made another new allegation specifically targeting teachers. You can read more here.
