Buffalo Jewish Federation is thankful every single day for the officers and law enforcement professionals who keep our community safe. This week, we’re thrilled to spotlight two of them, Joseph Hassett and Brian Kern, who are Federation’s main points of contact and help orchestrate security coverage across our region.
Joseph Hassett
Joseph is a Police Lieutenant who has been involved with the Buffalo Jewish Federation, Temple Beth Zion (TBZ), and the JCC Holland since the attacks on October 7, 2023. In January 2024, he began serving as a liaison helping coordinate Buffalo Police officers for various security details.
His desire to be a police officer stems back to childhood.
“Ever since I was a teenager, I’ve admired the work of first responders. Two of my uncles were in those roles, one was a Lieutenant with the Buffalo Fire Department and the other a Detective Sergeant with the Buffalo Police Department,” Joseph said. “Watching their careers is what inspired me to pursue the profession I’m in today.”
Joseph has now been with the Buffalo Police Department for more than 17 years. He enjoys that no two days on the job are ever the same.
“Every call for service and every situation comes with its own set of challenges and circumstances,” he said.
Joseph began his law enforcement career as a police officer with the City of Buffalo in 2009. As a patrol officer, he worked throughout the city and was assigned to several roles, including the Neighborhood Engagement Team (N.E.T.) and the Police Academy, where he served as an instructor for both rookie and veteran officers. Joseph was later promoted to Detective, spending most of his time assigned to the Narcotics/Vice Unit. After four years as a Detective, he was promoted to Lieutenant and is currently assigned to the E District. He has also been a member of the Buffalo Police SWAT team for the past three and a half years.
Joseph’s relationship with the Buffalo Jewish Federation has helped him learn that Jewish Buffalo is a close-knit community that he deeply admires and respects.
“You can really feel the sense of solidarity among people. It’s given me a greater appreciation for the community, the challenges they face, and how that intersects with the work I do,” Joseph said.
Brian Kern
Brian Kern is a Senior Investigator with the Amherst Police Department’s accident investigation unit, a role he’s been in for 10 years. Brian has worked for the department for 27 years.
Like Joseph, careers in law enforcement ran in Brian’s family.
“My father was a federal agent with the Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), so I grew up in the field,” he said. “I did not want to go federal because it involves a lot of moving around the country, so I stayed with the local route with the Town of Amherst.”
Brian enjoys that his work is never the same.
“Every car accident, every traffic stop, and every human intervention is different. The puzzle [the team] puts together on some of these scenes is always a different challenge,” he said.
Brian started out on regular patrol for 14 years, spent two years as a resource officer (SRO) in the Sweet Home school district, and he has since worked in the Accident Investigation Unit. He is also part of the department’s aerial drone unit, crime scene unit, and motorcycle unit. At the same time, he is a drug recognition expert and instructor with Stop DWI, and he teaches field sobriety at the local police academy.
Brian has worked with the Jewish community since 2002. He’s made many friends and contacts from that relationship.
“The Buffalo Jewish Federation has opened my career to all segments of the Jewish community, for which I am greatly appreciative. I learn something new when I personally work these jobs. This kind of knowledge is irreplaceable,” Brian said.