Mark M. Elfman
Agency patch
Lieutenant

Mark M. Elfman

Dunkirk Police Department — Dunkirk, NY
Felonious
End of Watch October 1, 1961
Age 48
Tour of Duty 15 yrs
The Vigil Panel 96 ›
Gender Male

Incident

Lieutenant Elfman was shot and killed when he and another officer responded to a domestic disturbance. As Lieutenant Elfman approached the front door of the home the suspect opened the door and fired a shotgun, fatally wounding him. The suspect was convicted of murder and later died of cancer in prison. Lieutenant Elfman was killed on the 15th anniversary of being sworn in as an officer with the Dunkirk Police Department.

Survivors

He was survived by his wife and eight children.

In Our Keeping

Permanent identifier
BO-US-NY-176830CD
Stewardship
Maintained by NeuraWeb Global Inc.
Added to badge.nw
August 2, 2026
Last updated
August 2, 2026

Honored here by 1 tribute.

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Tributes

I never knew you. I am standing here anyway.
Lieutenant Elfman gave the Dunkirk Police Department 15 years.
Thank you for your service to the Dunkirk community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Lieutenant Elfman.

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

Agency

Type Police Department
Location Dunkirk, Chautauqua County, NY
Platform Identity dpd.chautauqua.ny.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch October 1, 1961
Tour of Duty 15 yrs
Age 48
Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious
Weapon Shotgun

Lieutenant Mark M. Elfman is one of 1 officers killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty across the full record of this memorial — 0% of all 97,772 officers honored here.

In NY, 728 of 2,147 officers were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 33.9% of this state's fallen. That is 33.9 percentage points above the national rate of 0%.

At Dunkirk Police Department, 2 of 3 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 66.7% of this agency's fallen.

Dunkirk Police Department
2
of 3 officers
66.7% Felonious
NY — Statewide
728
of 2,147 officers
33.9% Felonious
Nationwide
1
of 97,772 officers
0% Felonious

National Cause Distribution

How Felonious compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. Mark M. Elfman's cause is highlighted.

Felonious
1 (0%)
Accident
1 (0%)
Illness
1 (0%)
Cardiac
1 (0%)
Undetermined
1 (0%)
Suicide
1 (0%)

How Mark M. Elfman Compares

Age at Death
48
This officer
Avg for Felonious: 39.0 years
Years of Service
15
This officer
Avg for Felonious: 8.4 years

When Felonious Deaths Occur

Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. Mark M. Elfman is highlighted in Oct.

Jan
1,392
Feb
1,295
Mar
1,373
Apr
1,516
May
1,504
Jun
1,442
Jul
1,587
Aug
1,517
Sep
1,491
Oct
1,371
Nov
1,447
Dec
1,624

Weapons Used Against Officers

Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. Mark M. Elfman was killed by shotgun.

Handgun
3,684
Gun
3,592
Gun; Unknown type
1,492
Shotgun
1,109
Rifle
935
Officer's handgun
909

Others Who Wore This Badge

2 officers from Dunkirk Police Department are honored on badge.nw.