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2021 Wall of Fame Recipient: Brian J. Gould
Brian is a lifelong resident of Erie County, born and raised in Cheektowaga. As a Boy Scout, he learned the importance of leadership while earning the rank of Eagle Scout. His community service started at the age of 18 when he joined the Doyle Volunteer Hose Company #2 volunteer fire department. Brian rose through the ranks of Doyle 2, reaching the rank of 1st Assistant Chief before moving to the Bellevue Volunteer Fire Company. Brian has been a volunteer firefighter in the Town of Cheektowaga his entire adult life, and currently remains an active member of the Bellevue Volunteer Fire Company. In addition, he has earned an Associate’s Degree in Fire Protection Technology from Erie Community College.
Brian began his career with the Cheektowaga Police Department as a Public Safety Dispatcher. It is here that he honed his communication skills by answering 911 calls and dispatching police and fire departments.
After dispatching for 3 years, Brian was hired as a patrol officer with the Cheektowaga Police Department. While assigned to patrol, he worked all three shifts and was assigned to the bicycle and motorcycle patrols. Brian is a NYS Certified DARE instructor and taught DARE classes while working the day shift patrol. Brian is also a NYS Certified School Resource Officer and was assigned to the Cheektowaga Sloan Union Free School District. While working at the school, Brian formed working relationships with the school administrators and teachers and worked hard to be a positive role model for the students.
In 2008, Brian was promoted to Sergeant, a first line supervisor position in the patrol division. Brian worked all three patrol shifts as a Sergeant and was promoted to Lieutenant in 2011. As a Lieutenant, Brian remained in patrol as a second line supervisor and began to command special units. He oversaw the Bike Patrol Unit and was the department’s liaison to the Police Mental Health Collaboration Project.
Brian had the honor of being selected to attend the FBI National Academy, a 10-week long law enforcement leadership training class at the FBI Training Academy in Quantico, Virginia. Only 1% of American Law Enforcement Executives are selected to attend the National Academy. After returning from the National Academy, Brian worked to finish his Bachelor’s Degree at Hilbert College in Hamburg, NY. He would eventually go on to earn a Master’s of Science Degree in Criminal Justice Administration at Hilbert College.
As a Lieutenant, Brian worked to develop Western New York’s first Crisis Intervention Team, a group of officers who have special training to help those in mental health crises. Brian also partnered with the Erie County Health Department to develop a response-after-overdose program, aimed at getting people who are struggling with addiction linked with treatment.
Brian was promoted again to the rank of Captain and spent one year as the Captain of Administration and Finance. Duties of this position included development and execution of the department’s yearly budget of approximately $18 million. In 2018, Brian wrote a federal grant application and was awarded funding to purchase body worn cameras. He developed the department’s policy and oversaw the implementation of the body worn camera program. Brian also worked to secure state funding to improve the outdated police and fire radio communication system and oversaw the completion of that project. In 2020, Brian was promoted to the position of Assistant Chief of Police with the promotion to his current role as Chief of Police occurring in August 2021.
Beside his service as a police officer, Brian served the community as a trustee of the Cheektowaga Central Board of Education for 12 years, with many years as the board president. He was successful in reelection twice and helped to craft the nearly $40 million yearly district budget. Brian is also passionate about the youth in Cheektowaga and led a committee of concerned community members working to bring a Boys and Girls Club to Cheektowaga. The committee was able to raise over $250,000 and secure a lease for the club in a town owned building. The club opened open in the fall of 2021. Brian also shares his experience and knowledge in the criminal justice field as an adjunct professor at Hilbert College and by mentoring graduate students.
As Brian himself stated, “I have dedicated my life to making my community a better place. Education is very important to me and I believe you never stop learning. I have a passion for bringing new and innovative ideas to the law enforcement community and work hard to make sure that the community is proud of their police department.”
Pictured below are Cheektowaga Chief of Police, Brian Gould and Cheektowaga Central School District Superintendent, Steven Wright.