Decades ago, a young Buffalo police officer, Bradford Pitts, was driving on Bailey Avenue when he saw a longtime friend waving from a car at a gas station.
Retired Buffalo police officers and longtime friends of the late Aaron Salter Jr. are, from left, Bradford Pitts, Earl Perrin and Nate Goldsmith. They are at the center of annual scholarships in honor of their friend, who was killed while trying to protect others from the gunman during the Tops shooting.
Buffalo Police Commissioner Joseph Gramaglia carries the folded flag from the casket of retired Buffalo Police officer Aaron Salter, who was killed in an exchange of gunfire with the Tops gunman while working at the store as a security guard, as he presents it to Salter's family at the end of a memorial service at The Chapel at Crosspoint, Wednesday, May 25, 2022. Salter has been hailed as a hero for his actions. (Derek Gee / Buffalo News)
Retired Buffalo Police officers and longtime friends of the late Aaron Salter, front from left: Bradford Pitts, Earl Perrin and Nate Goldsmith, outside the E District building where all served when they were young and new to the department.
“Too often you can walk around with a hard shell when inside you feel like you’re disintegrating,” said Tommy McClam, who with Daniel Robertson coordinates Breaking Barriers – a program for young men of color.
Retired Buffalo police officers Bradford Pitts, left, and Earl Perrin greet each other Tuesday outside the E District Station. They were close friends of Aaron Salter Jr.
Aaron Salter, the retired Buffalo police officer who was working as a security guard at the Tops on Jefferson Avenue, was laid to rest Wednesday, May 25. He was posthumously awarded the Buffalo Police Department Medal of Honor and promoted to the rank of lieutenant. His former colleagues started a scholarship in his honor. “Aaron saved lives,” Police Commissioner Joseph Gramaglia said at his funeral.
By Maki Becker
News Staff Reporter
Sean Kirst is a columnist with The Buffalo News. Email him at skirst@buffnews.com.
Retired Buffalo police officers and longtime friends of the late Aaron Salter Jr. are, from left, Bradford Pitts, Earl Perrin and Nate Goldsmith. They are at the center of annual scholarships in honor of their friend, who was killed while trying to protect others from the gunman during the Tops shooting.
Retired Buffalo Police officers and longtime friends of the late Aaron Salter, front from left: Bradford Pitts, Earl Perrin and Nate Goldsmith, outside the E District building where all served when they were young and new to the department.
Retired Buffalo police officers Bradford Pitts, left, and Earl Perrin greet each other Tuesday outside the E District Station. They were close friends of Aaron Salter Jr.
Buffalo Police Commissioner Joseph Gramaglia carries the folded flag from the casket of retired Buffalo Police officer Aaron Salter, who was killed in an exchange of gunfire with the Tops gunman while working at the store as a security guard, as he presents it to Salter's family at the end of a memorial service at The Chapel at Crosspoint, Wednesday, May 25, 2022. Salter has been hailed as a hero for his actions. (Derek Gee / Buffalo News)
