BUFFALO, N.Y. (WKBW) — The Buffalo Police lieutenant who was suspended last week for calling a woman a vulgar slur has had 36 complaints filed against him since he joined the force 20 years ago.
Before his suspension last week, Lt. Michael Delong was suspended four previous times, according to Buffalo Police disciplinary records obtained by the 7 Eyewitness News I-Team through a Freedom of Information Law request.
The disciplinary history of Lt. Delong was first reported by Investigative Post.
Delong was suspended 30 days in 2018 for a domestic incident, one day in 2017 for violating the sick leave policy, one day in 2014 for "conduct off duty" and two days in 2008 for use of force, the records show.
According to Delong's "disciplinary card" provided by Buffalo Police, the 36 complaints filed against Delong since he joined the force in 2000 had the following results:
- 22 complaints were deemed "not sustained" by the department's internal investigators.
- 6 complaints were sustained, including the four suspensions.
- 4 complaints resulted in a "commissioner's conference" or "chief's conference"
- 2 complaints resulted in Delong being "exonerated"
- 1 complaint was "unfounded"
- 1 complaint was handled "other, administrative"
Delong first gained notoriety on June 29 when he was caught on video calling 25-year-old woman Ruweyda Salim "a disrespectful little f***ing c**t" after she questioned the large police presence responding to a man at a 7 Eleven off Niagara Street. After posting about the incident on social media, Salim sat down exclusively with 7 Eyewitness News Reporter Madison Carter to describe the encounter.
The I-Team reported last week that Delong had been accused of misconduct before, including a domestic incident that was investigated by the Internal Affairs Division of the police department. The newly released records show Delong was cited for three domestic incidents, but only one was sustained. The sustained incident was investigated in March 2018 and resulted in a 30-day suspension without pay.
Click here to read Delong's disciplinary card from the Buffalo Police.
