North Tonawanda Police Chief Keith Glass has come to the defense of the city’s mayor - who appointed him to Police Chief and signs his paychecks - following a request for an investigation into a spoof Facebook page. Tylec's demand led to two uniformed officers questioning resident Jacob Quinn while he was at work. Glass characterized the officers' actions as “standard investigative police work” and expressed support for their conduct.
In a letter published on Facebook on Monday, Glass explained that Quinn voluntarily answered questions from the officers and demonstrated that his Facebook accounts were not linked to the parody page in question.
He noted, “While most of the posts were nonsensical, a few had the potential to cause alarm or confusion among residents,” although he did not provide details on specific posts.
However, it should be noted that posts on social media that could "cause alarm or confusion among residents" does not fit any penal law definition for a crime, even harassment. On that point, even the violation of harassment could likely not be charged as there is even more latitude for free speech and parody accounts when the subject is an elected official.
Glass further elaborated that detectives had consulted with the Niagara County District Attorney’s office regarding the complaint, a common practice in such cases. He stated, “The district attorney’s office advised that further investigation into the case was warranted.”
This new fact makes the entire situation worse. Not only did Mayor Austin Tylec seek to harass a resident at his place of work, but he started a process with the motivation of seeing a political rival arrested.
We have seen politicization of government at the federal level, but this is the first clear case of it locally in Niagara County.
The controversy erupted when Tylec expressed his concerns about the parody page, which has been active for two years and, according to him, has caused confusion among residents. He labeled Quinn an “antagonist” and claimed that the impersonation could lead to misinformation. However, Quinn, who has publicly distanced himself from the page, described the mayor's actions as a blatant misuse of power, suggesting that Tylec is weaponizing the police for personal grievances.
Quinn, who previously voted for Tylec, allowed officers to examine his phone to prove his innocence regarding the spoof page. He characterized the mayor's move as an attack and retribution for past conflicts including a 2019 incident where Quinn circulated a photo depicting Tylec as Adolf Hitler. Tylec dismissed the photo as fake, but the underlying issue remains: the mayor's response to criticism has crossed a line.
While North Tonawanda Police Chief Keith Glass acknowledged that the spoof page is not a crime, he stated that it contains “a lot of misinformation.” This raises the question of why Tylec felt it necessary to involve law enforcement in a matter that should be addressed through dialogue and not intimidation. The Constitution protects citizens' rights to free expression and Tylec's attempt to silence dissenting voices is a concerning overreach.
The spoof page includes a clear disclaimer indicating its satirical nature. It is not the role of the mayor or police to enforce Facebook's terms of service. For Tylec to dispatch police officers over a matter of free speech is not only shocking but also indicative of a troubling mindset among public officials who cannot tolerate criticism.
Quinn's assertion that Tylec has targeted him for years adds another layer to this controversy. The mayor's apology during a recent board meeting, where he offered to explain the situation to Quinn's employer, does little to mitigate the damage done. In fact, the apology sounded insincere and condescending: “So, I will apologize, though, that they went to your place of work, and I’d be happy to call your boss and explain the situation further."
At no time did he apologize, or attempt to explain, the abuse of power by ordering police officers, of whom he essentially signs their paychecks, to harass a resident. It is a stark reminder that the misuse of power can have real consequences for individuals who simply wish to express their opinions.
As a result of Tylec's actions, members of the North Tonawanda Common Council sent a letter to City Attorney Edward A. Zebulske demanding an investigation into the matter.
LETTER
Dear Mr. Zebulske,
The North Tonawanda Common Council is deeply alarmed by the allegations raised against Mayor Austin J. Tylec during the January 21st council meeting.
As publicly confirmed by both the Mayor and the Chief of Police, two officers visited the workplace of a private citizen on Tuesday morning to question them about their potential connection to an obscure satirical Facebook page parodying the Mayor.
Following this incident, the individual reported to the Common Council, alleging that Mayor Tylec may have “weaponized the North Tonawanda Police Department” as an act of
political retaliation.
The Common Council is greatly disturbed by the possibility that taxpayer-funded resources
were used to suppress political speech at the direction of an elected official. We strongly
condemn any actions that infringe upon citizens’ constitutionally protected right to free
speech. Such behavior represents a serious violation of public trust.
Irrespective of the Mayor’s apology about this situation, as the city’s legislative branch, we request that the City Attorney’s Office conduct a thorough review of the Mayor’s conduct in
this matter. We are particularly concerned about any civil liability and ask for an assessment
of any potential litigation costs to taxpayers. The Council remains committed to monitoring
this situation closely to ensure it is handled appropriately.
Thank you for your attention to this matter.
Best regards,
Joseph Lavey, Jr., Council President
Robert Schmigel, Alderman, 1st Ward
Frank DiBernardo, Alderman, 2nd Ward
Joseph Marranca III, Alderman, 3rd Ward
Joseph N. Loncar, Alderman-at-Large
The mayor's behavior not only undermines the principles of democracy but also sets a dangerous precedent for how public officials engage with their constituents.
North Tonawanda Police Chief Defends Boss, Says Mayor Austin Tylec's Actions Justified