Buffalo Police detective Dennis Delano was suspended from the force in February. He was accused of handing out unauthorized, highly sensitive evidence in the Lynn Dejac murder case. According to police, it was crime scene video and the polygraph exam of a suspect. "There saying on thing. I'm saying another. I deny em", said Delano back in February.
Delano was suspended with pay. It's been 8 months without a hearing. Eyewitness News has learned that a hearing has been scheduled for January.
Sources also tell Eyewitness News that a deal was in the works, but there was a hitch. We're told the Delano camp wanted the words "no wrong doing" included in the resolution, but police commissioner H. McCarthy Gipson would not do it.
It is nearly a year later. Since then, Delano has announced he is running for state senate, and has had plenty of free time, with pay, to do it. Using 2007 numbers Delano's base pay was $61,946. Since he's been suspended, just after March, Delano has made about $41, 297.
He announced his candidacy at the end of May. Starting in June, tax payers have funded a salary of about $25,810 for Delano while on suspension. During that time he ran for office.
Neither Delano or the Buffalo Police department would comment about the delay, but his opponent in the upcoming election, State Senator Bill Stachowski is wondering why it's taking so long. "I have no idea why he wouldn't want to get it over with sooner, which if he is in-fact innocent or do anything wrong then you would think he would want to get it over quicker and get it out of the way." said Stachowski.
Delano has done very little with the media, and has not participated in any public debates. After granting an interview with Eyewitness News, his campaign manager called later to cancel. They also would not comment on anything.
Political analyst Bob Davis says it's strategy. Delano is doing well in the polls as a republican in a heavy democratic district. "It's like the Jimmy Carter strategy back in the 1970's, where it's Rose Garden strategy. You don't want to make a mistake with 8 days to go." said Davis.
