BUFFALO, N.Y. — The Buffalo Board of Education announced Monday it will conduct an independent external investigation after serious accusations were made over the weekend by a Buffalo police detective.  

Detective Richard Hy on the "Unsubscribed Podcast" accused Buffalo Public Schools of covering up and obstructing investigations of sexual assaults and abuse in regards to its students.

The BOE decided to convene in an executive session Monday afternoon to further discuss the allegations made by Hy over the weekend.

BPS put out a statement on Saturday acknowledging the accusations made in the podcast, saying in part, “the district is prepared to vigorously address these untruths.” They also said that the district has prioritized the safety and security of its students and staff.

This is not the first time allegations have been made against the school district, as a City Honors teacher was charged with sexual misconduct and child pornography in 2019.

Hy was suspended twice in 2016 for violating the police department’s social media policy and his alleged involvement in a choking incident — though these incidents are not connected to the accusations he spoke about in the podcast episode.

However, some advocates for students say they hope the message isn’t lost because of the messenger, and what comes next must be accountability and transparency from the school district. 

“If they have a paper trail that says that everything that they were required to do was done, that every child was safe, that'll be the best-case scenario,” said Sam Radford, co-chair, We the Parents. “But if it turns out that any part of what he's saying is true, there's a problem that needs corrective action.”

The Buffalo Police Department released a statement Monday evening, saying:

"The Buffalo Police Department is aware of the concerns raised by one of our members regarding the handling of incidents involving student safety. We are committed to conducting thorough investigations to ensure transparency and accountability. While we are unable to comment on specific details due to pending investigations, protecting the safety and well-being of our community's youth remains a top priority. We will work diligently with all stakeholders to uphold the trust placed in us."

The Erie County District Attorney's Office also issued a statement Monday, saying:

"The Erie County District Attorney’s Office is committed to the thorough investigation and prosecution of any crime against a child. We continue to handle any allegation of sexual assault, child abuse and tampering with evidence with the utmost seriousness. The District Attorney is aware of the statements made by a member of the Buffalo Police Department regarding the Buffalo Public School District in a recent podcast. While we understand these statements have raised concerns about the safety and well-being of children in our community, our office cannot comment at this time as to not compromise any potential investigation that may relate to those public comments. Additionally, some statements made during the podcast involve an ongoing criminal case, and our office does not comment on any matter currently pending prosecution."