Gary Hackbush Appointed as First Deputy District Attorney

BUFFALO, NEW YORK - Acting District Attorney Michael J. Keane announces the first appointment under his leadership as District Attorney following the certification of the election results early last week. Effective Monday, December 2, 2024, Gary W. Hackbush will serve as the First Deputy District Attorney.

First Deputy District Attorney Gary Hackbush has served as a prosecutor in the Erie County District Attorney's Office for more than 30 years. As one of the office's most skilled and experienced trial attorneys, Mr. Hackbush has been responsible for prosecuting some of the most violent criminals.

In his most recent role as Chief of the Homicide Bureau, First Deputy DA Hackbush led the investigation of all homicide cases within Erie County. He supervised a team of senior Assistant District Attorneys and Confidential Criminal Investigators while maintaining his own active caseload. As leader of this division, Mr. Hackbush was also on-call 24/7 to provide critical guidance and assistance to law enforcement agencies on time-sensitive matters related to these complex investigations, such as search warrants, evidence collection, and witness and suspect interviews.

Prior to heading the Homicide Bureau, Mr. Hackbush served as Chief of the Tactical Prosecution Unit (Major Crimes Bureau), which is responsible for investigating gun-involved violence and gang-related activity. As many of these crimes involve reluctant victims and witnesses, prosecutors assigned to this division are proficient in securing witness testimony and other critical evidence. Chief Hackbush and his team worked closely with law enforcement partner agencies to attempt to prevent gun violence by identifying conflicts and developing strategies to interrupt potential violence.

First Deputy DA Hackbush's exceptional service has earned him recognition from the Erie County Law Enforcement Foundation, which honored him twice for his work in the former Tactical Prosecution Unit and as a member of the team that prosecuted the gunman responsible for the May 14th tragedy on Buffalo's East Side.

"Not only is Gary one of the most dedicated attorneys in this office, his meticulous preparation, tireless work ethic and compassion for victims of crime and their families is unparalleled. He has worked relentlessly on some of the most complex and violent cases while always demonstrating professionalism. I am honored to have him serve as First Deputy District Attorney in my administration," said Acting District Attorney Mike Keane.

Acting DA Mike Keane will announce his appointment for Chief of the Homicide Bureau at a later date.