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Buffalo Police Athletic Club

The Buffalo Police Athletic Club and Gym Formed in 1977, the Buffalo Police Athletic Club and Gym began to incorporate and encourage physical fitness and athletic competition among police officers. Lt. Dave Wuest started the gym and given the task as a physical training officer for BPD.

The gym, located at Buffalo Police Headquarters, started out with a bare room; it had no flooring, it was dirty and it had no equipment. Lt. Wuest and other officers cleaned up the room and supplied the gym with their own personal physical fitness equipment. Through a grant, one Universal Machine was provided, but otherwise there was no funding. In order to support the gym the Police Athletic Club was formed and soon after, an annual beer blast was held to provide funds for improvement of the gym and the Police Olympic Team.

Gradually, equipment came in and collections for dues began to help keep the gym going. In 1999, Commissioner Rocco J. Diina coordinated a major renovation of the gym, which included a new rubberized floor; new mirrors, a new suspended ceiling and a facility fix up and pant up. Ciminelli Development and several of its subcontractors donated their time, labor and materials that helped keep the cost of the program down.

The PAC has also been involved with a Police Olympic Team, a Teenage Buffalo Power lifting event, assisted with the U.S. Olympic Marathon trials, the Special Olympics and Torch Run. The biggest events the Buffalo Police Athletic Club has held over the last 30 years are the Police Chase 10K run and handcuffed couples race in which Lt. Arnie Walker has for many years made the Police Chase "one of WNY's top road races." He has also contributed to improving the gym.

The Buffalo Police Gym is open 24/7 for members and if any BPD officer or personnel would like to become a member, contact Inspector Harold McLellan at 851-4558