BUFFALO, N.Y. — An investigation by Buffalo Police’s Internal Affairs is in progress following an incident where an officer’s rifle fell from a rooftop onto a sidewalk during the St. Patrick’s Day Parade on Sunday.

“This is something that doesn’t happen, can’t happen, nor I’ve never heard of this happening,” said Joseph Gramaglia, Buffalo Police commissioner. 

Photos sent to WGRZ by a viewer reveal an officer stationed on the rooftop of a building located at 560 Delaware Avenue at Allen Street in downtown Buffalo. The rifle was seen on a stand near the officer, precariously balancing at the roof’s edge.

Gramaglia explained to 2 On Your Side that the officer was in an overwatch position, a security tactic employed by the department for better oversight during large events. Preliminary findings from the department’s investigation suggest that strong winds dislodged the rifle from its position, causing it to fall from the building.

He does not believe the officer mishandled the firearm. 

“It’s not that it was physically being handled, it wasn’t dropped,” Gramaglia said.

“I must wait for the internal investigation to conclude. However, initial information suggests that it was properly secured to a tripod with a weighted bag, as per protocol,” he stated.

The rifle landed perilously close to parade-goers but was quickly secured by another officer and taken away from the area. Specialists assure that the rifle posed no immediate danger to the public.

“These types of weapons aren’t like handguns or something that an average person could easily operate if picked up,” commented Jeff Rinaldo, a retired Buffalo Police captain.

As Buffalo PD continues its investigation, Sunday’s close call now serving as a reminder to the department about the importance of the overwatch position and its necessity in protecting events going forward.

“Anytime you have a mass gathering, that’s what’s considered a soft target where you have large amounts of people, medium-sized amount of people coming together, we have a duty and obligation to protect them,” Gramaglia said. 

“It’s not the days of old when I was on patrol and we had officers out. You’ve got to have highly trained tactical officers now in these in these situations.”