Edwin L. Garris

Edwin L. Garris finds his greatest achievement to be his 30-year marriage to his wife, Cynthia, and in being a father to their three daughters. A deacon at International Church for All People and three-time combat war veteran, he started his career in 1983 and went on to serve in Operation Desert Storm.

Since then, Mr. Garris has joined the fight against terror, protecting freedom in both Operation Iraqi Freedom in 2005 and 2007’s Operation Enduring Freedom. After graduating from the Sergeant Major Academy in 2009, he became Operations Sergeant Major for the Homeland Response Force in 2012, and in 2013 was assigned to the 102nd Military Police Battalion Forward as the Command Sergeant Major.

Outside of the U.S. Military, Mr. Garris joined the Buffalo Police Department in 1997, and now proudly serves as a Lieutenant in Buffalo’s Old First Ward. There, he is a member of the Honor Guard and Commander of the Emergency Response Team.

Mr. Garris has given back to his military community by helping assist veteran heroes in finding medical care, new jobs, homes and more at the Veterans One-stop of WNY. On behalf of Veterans One-stop, Mr. Garris organized a military dinner for WWII veterans where they were honored with their first military coins.

Mr. Garris has organized numerous other military dinners, including the Blue and Green Ball, where he honored other military service men and women who serve their communities as police officers.

A decorated military man, and beloved police lieutenant, Mr. Garris still finds his highest honor in being called “Dad.”