As you know from my reporting on Casey Wagner, there is nothing I despise more than bully cops and corrections officers.
And today, I’m going to introduce you to one of the biggest I’ve ever encountered: Richard Hy of the Buffalo New York Police Department. At the end of this post, I’m going to encourage you to join me as whistleblowers and concerned citizens to make Buffalo, New York’s police department a little safer.
If you haven’t seen the story, Ryan Krueger of the Prison Journalism Project recently wrote on a Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW) chapter created by and for incarcerated veterans being shut down.
Not because of any wrongdoing, not because of any scandal from within. But because an internet bully with a badge and a long history of misconduct decided it wasn’t ok.
That bully? Richard Hy of Buffalo, NY, known to his YouTube fans as “Angry Cops.”
Do not go to his channel unless you go there to Report him, because it plays into the algorithm and he does not need any more watch time.
What the VFW did next is not just disappointing, it is outright disgraceful; a slap in the face to those who served their country.
The VFW Caved to a Bad Cop With a Long Record of Misconduct
Let’s start with the facts: Hy is not an upstanding civil servant. His record is a walking indictment of everything wrong with policing today.
“Angry Cops” is an accurate name for Hy, as he most definitely has anger issues and should seek treatment.
Someone captured his poor behavior on a Wikipedia Page… and it is staggering:
- 23 internal investigations by Buffalo Police Department’s Internal Affairs.
- 8 formal complaints filed with the New York State Attorney General’s Office between 2015 and 2021.
Multiple incidents including assault, drunk driving, striking civilians with vehicles, and mocking children, and beating people experiencing a mental health emergency.
In another event, Hy referred to black children as “ni****s”. Richard N. Hy is not someone who should be talking to the VFW about values.
And yet, this wildly unprofessional man and his outrage led the VFW and the VFW Foundation to backpedal entirely and dismantle a chapter run by justice-impacted veterans. Because, apparently, standing up for veterans who are serving their time and attempting to rebuild their lives is less important than appeasing a cop with a YouTube account and a “rules for thee but not for me” chip on his shoulder.
You know what, let’s call him Dick from here on out.
It is also worth noting that he mocks citizen detectives, which I find hilarious considering that even with his large following of law enforcement “professionals”, not a single one of them looked into Richard’s background to find his sizeable list of bad behavior.
Clearly they aren’t great at detective work and desperately need the assist.
Alternatively, maybe they did look and just didn’t care because they’re cut from the same cloth.
I dare say he hates independent investigators solely because they manage to find his never ending mountain of misconduct.
The Story That Sparked It All
Ryan Krueger, an incarcerated veteran and contributor to the Prison Journalism Project, originally wrote a humanizing and heartfelt piece for the VFW’s magazine about how a VFW chapter helped give purpose to veterans behind bars. It wasn’t a fluff piece; it was honest, redemptive, and powerful.
The VFW even showcased and celebrated it.
Then came the backlash via Dick (aka Richard Hy, aka Angry Cops), who posted the video stoking entirely unnecessary outrage among his followers for clicks and views. What followed was online harassment, political pressure, and, ultimately, the VFW caving under a wave of bad-faith criticism.
…After they had happily accepted thousands of dollars from the chapter, of course.
What Message Does This Send? That the VFW is Abandoning Veterans
Let’s be clear: incarcerated veterans are still veterans.
They served. They sacrificed. Many of them carry invisible wounds of war, trauma, homelessness, and substance use; wounds that sometimes lead them down the wrong path. But if the VFW won’t even stand by those veterans when they’re trying to make amends and do good behind bars, then what exactly are its values?
Statistically, Dick’s audience members, if mostly veterans, have a pretty high chance of becoming justice-impacted; a 61% shot to be specific.
So is the VFW just a social club for the “right” kind of veterans?
Are they more interested in media optics than in justice and redemption?
And why are they afraid to stand up to him; a man with two dozen IA investigations, a history of racism, and a public record that should make any ethical police department show him the door?
This Is Bigger Than One Chapter
When institutions like the VFW prioritize image over integrity, they don’t just fail the people they claim to serve; they erode public trust.
This isn’t just about one VFW chapter or one angry cop with a history of misconduct. It’s about whether our legacy institutions will evolve or crumble under the weight of outdated politics and online mobs ran by terrible cops.
I say let those institutions fail, because the truth is this: the veterans in prison who found a sense of purpose through the VFW deserved better. Ryan deserved better. And every future justice-impacted veteran who dreams of being seen as more than a criminal statistic deserves better.
Richard Hy’s misconduct could have, and may eventually land him behind bars. Only then will he will finally “get it” and do an about face.
Pending request of his military records, Hy served two tours in Iraq and saw combat. I have to wonder if he too suffered head trauma, leading him to make such disrespectful decisions.
Even if that is the case, he is not an “Everyman” and he does not deserve sympathy.
He still serves with the New York Army National Guard, meaning he earns salary there, around $95,000 through his detective position with the Buffalo Police Department, and owns three properties in Buffalo, presumably one primary and two income properties, along with a channel estimated to be worth around $750,000.
Meaning he’s using power, position, and money to be an insufferable bully. It is unknown whether he’s doing all of this on taxpayer’s time and dime.
What a small, tiny Dick he must be to take away something that brought incarcerated veterans joy.
Speaking of Money…
The salaries for VFW’s top rank looks quite disproportionate and elitist.
VFW: You Backed the Wrong Horse
The VFW needs to answer for this.
Not with spin. Not with silence. But with transparency and accountability.
You don’t get to wave the flag and talk about honor, duty, and country then abandon veterans the second things get hard.
These people put their life on the line for this country. The government designed and carried out training that rewired their brains for combat. Many suffered from brain injuries, often directly correlated with those who are justice involved. Countless others suffer from PTSD.
Dick, Richard Hy, didn’t bring facts to the table or bring meaningful conversation to take something from people trying to rebuild. That’s inexcusable.
When you play stupid games, you win stupid prizes. But it’s not too late for the VFW to do the right thing:
Apologize.
Stop letting corrupt cops like Richard Hy dictate your values.
Next Steps? UNO Reverse.
- Contact the VFW and demand they reinstate the chapter; tell them to stop buckling to the warped whims and pressure of unprofessional cops who should be fired.
- Write to Buffalo Police Department and the New York Air National Guard; demand that Dick’s leadership deal with his misconduct and bullying.
- If you’ve suffered misconduct at the hands of Richard Hy, report it to the New York Attorney General’s Office.
- Report his Channel to YouTube. We have enough misinformation on the internet; we don’t need more.
Attorney General Letter Template
[Your Name][Your Address][City, State, ZIP Code][Email Address][Phone Number]
Date: [Insert Today’s Date]
To:
Buffalo Police Department
68 Court Street
Buffalo, NY 14202
AND
Office of the Attorney General
Letitia James, Attorney General
The Capitol
Albany, NY 12224-0341
⸻
Subject: Formal Complaint and Request for Termination of Officer Richard Hy
Dear Buffalo Police Department and Office of the Attorney General,
I am writing to formally request the immediate investigation and termination of Buffalo Police Officer Richard Hy, also known online as “Angry Cops.”
Mr. Hy’s behavior—both on and off duty—has brought deep shame to your department and undermined public trust in law enforcement. According to public records, Officer Hy has been the subject of at least 23 internal investigations by Buffalo Police Internal Affairs and 8 formal complaints submitted to the New York State Attorney General’s Office between 2015 and 2021. These include disturbing allegations of:
• Assault and excessive use of force
• Driving under the influence
• Striking civilians with a police vehicle
• Verbally harassing children and civilians
• Engaging in public ridicule and targeted online harassment
Most recently, Officer Hy leveraged his online persona and public platform to harass justice-involved veterans and advocates affiliated with a Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW) chapter based in a correctional facility. His actions contributed to the unjust dismantling of a rehabilitative veterans program inside prison walls, a move that has drawn national backlash and rightfully sparked public outrage.
This is not just an issue of misconduct—it is an issue of abuse of power, repeated community endangerment, and a blatant disregard for the ethical standards that law enforcement officers are sworn to uphold.
A continued failure to discipline or remove Officer Hy sends a dangerous message: that branding, bullying, and misconduct are more valued than integrity, professionalism, and accountability.
We demand:
1. A full public review of Officer Hy’s internal affairs record
2. An independent investigation into his conduct—both digital and in uniform
3. His immediate suspension pending investigation
4. His permanent termination if these violations are substantiated, as they appear to be
The people of Buffalo—and the entire state of New York—deserve a police force that holds itself to the highest standards of justice, fairness, and public service. Officer Hy has proven, time and again, that he is unfit to wear the badge.
I urge you to act swiftly and transparently.
Sincerely,
[Your Full Name][Optional: Title or Affiliation]
