Episode Summary: Cleared Hot – Episode 386 with Richard "Rich" Hy

Introduction

In Episode 386 of Cleared Hot, host Andy Stumpf welcomes Richard "Rich" Hy, a seasoned SVU detective from Buffalo, New York. Rich is not only a dedicated law enforcement officer but also a prominent figure on YouTube and Twitter under the moniker "Angry Cops." This episode delves into Rich's courageous role as a whistleblower concerning the Buffalo School District's alarming underreporting of critical incidents involving student safety.

Background

Rich Hy brings a wealth of experience from his tenure in the Buffalo Police Department, specializing in Special Victims Unit (SVU) investigations. His active presence on social media platforms has amplified his voice, allowing him to spotlight issues that might otherwise remain obscured within institutional confines.

Whistleblowing on Buffalo School District

Rich Hy has recently emerged as a whistleblower, shedding light on the Buffalo School District's troubling pattern of intentionally misreporting significant incidents. Instead of addressing the root causes of safety concerns, the administration appeared to target Rich personally, aiming to discredit his findings and discourage further advocacy.

Incidents and Evidence

Rich uncovered nearly 20,000 incidents over the past five years, with a distressing portion involving severe misconduct. Notably:

• Dosing of Students: Over 50% of these incidents involved the administration relating to cases where students were dosed with high levels of THC-infused gummies by teachers.

  • Quote: “Nearly 20,000 incidents in the last five years, some of which over 50% being reported as school other in that how about scheduling two children who were dosed with very high dose THC gummies by one of their teachers.” [Timestamp: 04:35]

• Abduction Attempts: There were reports of potential abductions of two children, which were inadequately documented in official reports.

  • Quote: “Another case was the potential abduction of two children school other was that was was reported in their system.” [Timestamp: 07:00]

Rich emphasizes that such incidents were often mislabeled as "information only," a categorization that trivializes the severity of the events.

• Quote: “We would find them that say, like, information only. And. Which is like, you know, threw some dirt on your neighbor's lawn, and he didn't like it, and you guys have an issue with one another, so you call the police.” [Timestamp: 65:15]

Response from School District and Media

Upon Rich's exposure of these discrepancies, the initial reaction from the Buffalo School District was to target him instead of addressing the underlying issues. The local media, particularly Channel 7 News, opted to focus on Rich's controversial online presence rather than the substantive claims he presented.

• Quote: “The assistant district attorney finds out that there's a second victim that was attempted, that was nearly abducted in this attempt.” [Timestamp: 66:59]
• Quote: “They go after me first, which was something I was prepared for, but not expecting the amount at how they were, like, trying to force the story away from, you know, the kids and the. The abuse and the underreporting.” [Timestamp: 60:10]

The narrative spun by the media diverted attention from the critical issue of student safety to scrutinizing Rich's social media activities, painting him as a "bad cop" due to his online engagement.

• Quote: “As long as I'm not doing anything, but the first time I get in trouble, it's 20 days plus suspended without pay.” [Timestamp: 76:46]

Support from Community and Fellow Officers

Despite facing institutional pushback, Rich received overwhelming support from his colleagues and the police union. Fellow officers and friends rallied behind him, affirming the righteousness of his stance and providing moral backing during the backlash.

• Quote: “The guys rallied around me, the unsubbed guys. You know, Cody used to own an operator. Nick the Fat electrician, Eli Double Tap, Brandon Herrera, the AK guy, and the crew that surrounds them, too.” [Timestamp: 75:03]

Challenges and Obstacles

One of the primary challenges Rich highlights is the systemic reluctance within the school administration to report or accurately document incidents. This underreporting hampers effective law enforcement intervention and jeopardizes student safety.

• Quote: “The schools didn't tell me anything about that not even the school told us that we were waiting for you to call us.” [Timestamp: 84:59]

Additionally, Rich points out the formidable influence of teachers' unions, which can impede the initiation of proper investigations and protect administrators even in the face of clear evidence of misconduct.

• Quote: “I just need that for the hill I'm gonna die on.” [Timestamp: 155:24]

Call to Action for Listeners

Rich urges listeners to take proactive steps to address the systemic issues within the Buffalo School District and beyond:

1. Report and Share Information:

   • For those within Buffalo: “Email that. That's great.” [Timestamp: 65:54]
   • For those outside Buffalo: “Repost the story to any New York state politician, tag the FBI or any politician, tag the Attorney General's office.” [Timestamp: 90:20]

2. Engage with Authorities:

   • Tag relevant federal and state bodies on social media platforms to draw attention to the underreporting and mishandling of critical incidents.

3. Support Through Information Sharing:

   • Utilize the dedicated email account, takehighroad@gmail.com, for parents, students, teachers, and counselors to report incidents accurately.

Conclusion

Episode 386 of Cleared Hot presents a compelling narrative of systemic failure within the Buffalo School District and the courageous efforts of Detective Rich Hy to expose and address these critical issues. Rich's unwavering dedication to protecting children and ensuring accountability within educational institutions serves as a call to action for listeners to engage, report, and support meaningful change. Through his testimony, Rich underscores the importance of transparency, accurate reporting, and collective responsibility in safeguarding the well-being of students.

Notable Quotes with Timestamps

• “Nearly 20,000 incidents in the last five years, some of which over 50% being reported as school other in that...” [04:35]

• “We would find them that say, like, information only. And. Which is like, you know, threw some dirt on your neighbor's lawn...” [65:15]

• “The assistant district attorney finds out that there's a second victim that was attempted...” [66:59]

• “We don't have a social media policy. But what you're doing could be bad and bring bad light on the department.” [76:46]

• “The union said positive things. They put out a statement supporting me.” [79:05]

• “The schools didn't tell me anything about that not even the school told us that we were waiting for you to call us.” [84:59]

• “All the parents talked.” [85:39]

• “The unsub video. There's two now. One's my. The original whistleblowing incident. One's the update...” [155:28]

Supporting Rich Hy's Mission

Listeners interested in supporting Rich Hy's efforts can:

• Subscribe and Follow:

  • Follow Rich on YouTube at "Angry Cops" to stay updated on his latest investigations and findings.

• Engage on Social Media:

  • Participate in the dialogue by tagging relevant authorities and sharing pertinent information on platforms like Twitter and Facebook.

• Direct Communication:

  • Parents and educators with firsthand information should reach out via the provided email (takehighroad@gmail.com) to contribute to the investigation.

Rich Hy's dedication exemplifies the impactful role that individual courage and community support can play in confronting and rectifying institutional shortcomings. This episode serves as both an informative and motivational segment for those committed to fostering safer educational environments.