Hon. Michael A. Amico ’58
Michael A. Amico ’58 was a prominent alumnus who had a long and successful career in law enforcement. He was sheriff of Erie County from 1970-1977.
About this Interview
Interview Date(s)
May 3, 2007
Interviewed By
E. Jeannette Ogden
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About Michael A. Amico
Michael Amico said he always had an ambition to pursue the law. He started as a motorcycle policeman with the Buffalo Police Department. He was a pilot in World War II and was able to afford college under the GI Bill of Rights. He attended UB law school during the day and “bounced law books on the motorcycle at night” until he landed a desk job with the police department.
He credits his excellent legal education at UB and his law career for his success in law enforcement.
He had a long career and commitment to narcotics enforcement as a detective in the Buffalo Police Department, where he pursued criminals—sometimes undercover—who were involved in vice, liquor, gambling, narcotics, criminal intelligence and organized crime. In 1963 he represented Buffalo at the U.S. Senate Investigation Committee in Washington on Organized Crime (the Valachi hearings). He was elected sheriff in 1970 and served until 1977.
Amico also was one of the founders of Valu Home Centers.
He received numerous awards, including News Outstanding Citizen by The Buffalo News; the Grover Cleveland Award for outstanding service by the Erie County Law Enforcement Foundation, in 1989; and a Distinguished Alumnus Award from the UB Law Alumni Association, also in 1989.
Born Feb. 8, 1920—Died Sept. 6, 2015
