Uncrowned Community Builders

Charles A. Hulett was born in Niagara Falls, Ontario. His family moved around a lot because his father was a construction worker. His family had to go wherever there was work and they moved to White Plains, New York. After a short time there his family moved to 8 Hollow Place in Buffalo, New York. He attended Fosdick Masten High School. After high school he served in the U.S. Navy. In the Navy he was a seaman. He also took night classes at the University of Buffalo.
He married Louise Wallace in 1949. They had two children; a daughter Sandra and a son, Charles Jr. in November 1956 he joined the Buffalo police department as a patrolman. In 1965 he received a department medal for his part in the arrest of a person who attached his partner. The knife severed a tendon in his partner's hand, which required 14 stitches. After a short food chase patrolman Hulett captured him. In 1965 he was promoted to Detective with his partner Donald Armstrong. Over the years he received numerous departmental accommodations. Detective Hulett was also a boxing instructor at the Police Athletic league at the Willert Park community Center. There he worked with teens and pre-teens.
He was also one of the founding fathers of the Afro-American Police Association. The AAPA started as a group of African American police officers that strived to reduce racism and discrimination in the Buffalo Police department. They recruited minority officers. They also attempted and succeeded in proving police relations with the African American community by being lawful, peaceful and striving for justice.
In February, 1974, he was promoted to Detective Sergeant, 7 days before his death on March 7, 1974.
Submitted by Adriana Bails (1985 Essay contest)
Reprinted with permission from the Afro American Historical Association of the Niagara Frontier, Inc.