James Michael Buffum

Topeka Police Department — Topeka, KS

Cardiac

End of Watch September 13, 1975

Age 32

Tour of Duty 2 yrs

The Vigil Panel 116 ›

Gender Male

Incident Service The Sacrifice Department 9

Incident

Reserve Police Officer James Buffum suffered a fatal heart attack shortly after struggling with a subject he had just arrested for disorderly conduct.

The man slammed Officer Buffum against a wall during the struggle. Officer Buffum was able to subdue the subject and place him in custody. He suddenly collapsed as he completed paperwork.

Officer Buffum had served with the Topeka Police Department for two years.

In Our Keeping

Permanent identifier: BO-US-KS-C3F8A574
Stewardship: Maintained by NeuraWeb Global Inc.
Added to badge.nw: August 2, 2026
Last updated: August 2, 2026

Honored here by 1 sentinel - 1 tribute.

Are you family? This record can be claimed and maintained by those who knew James. Claim this record.

This page is permanent and free. No fee to view it, no advertising, no tracking, and no account required. It will not be taken down.

Tributes

I never knew you. I am standing here anyway.
Reserve Police Officer Buffum gave the Topeka Police Department 2 years.
Thank you for your service to the Topeka community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Reserve Police Officer Buffum.

— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993

Agency

Department Topeka Police Department

Type Police Department

Location Topeka, Shawnee County, KS

Platform Identity tpd.shawnee.ks.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch September 13, 1975

Tour of Duty 2 yrs

Age 32

Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Cardiac

Cause Detail Heart attack

Weapon Person

Reserve Police Officer James Michael Buffum is one of 1 officers lost to cardiac events in the line of duty across the full record of this memorial — 0% of all 97,756 officers honored here.

In KS, 15 of 335 officers were lost to cardiac events in the line of duty — 4.5% of this state's fallen. That is 4.5 percentage points above the national rate of 0%.

At Topeka Police Department, 1 of 10 officers on record were lost to cardiac events in the line of duty — 10% of this agency's fallen.

Topeka Police Department

of 10 officers

10% Cardiac

KS — Statewide

of 335 officers

4.5% Cardiac

Nationwide

of 97,756 officers

0% Cardiac