Roll of Honor
Incident
Detective Frank Wypijewski suffered a fatal heart attack while struggling with a suspect.
Detective Wypijewski and his partner responded to a complaint of a motor vehicle being operated without the use of its headlights. The detectives located and stopped the vehicle in order to speak with the driver.
The detectives quickly recognized the driver as a man who had previously served time in jail for burglary. During the course of their investigation, the detectives came across numerous bottles of liquor in the trunk of the car that they believed may have been stolen in a burglary of a nearby tavern. When the detectives questioned the driver about the bottles, he became violent and began fighting with the detectives.
During the fight, Detective Wypijewski let out a gasp and fell to the ground. Detective Wypijewski's partner attempted to revive him, but was unable to. Detective Wypijewski was removed to a local hospital where he was pronounced dead from a heart attack.
Detective Wypijewski had served with the Buffalo Police Department for 23 years, and was survived by his wife and two sons.
Survivors
Detective Wypijewski had served with the Buffalo Police Department for 23 years, and was survived by his wife and two sons.
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
BO-US-NY-1724E75C- Stewardship
- Maintained by NeuraWeb Global Inc.
- Added to badge.nw
- April 2, 2026
- Last updated
- July 23, 2026
Honored here by 1 sentinel - 1 tribute.
Are you family? This record can be claimed and maintained by those who knew Frank. 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
23 years. You could have gone home.
Detective Wypijewski gave the Buffalo Police Department 23 years. Still answering calls at the end.
Thank you for your service to the Buffalo community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Detective Wypijewski.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
Detective Frank C. Wypijewski is one of 1,306 officers lost to cardiac events in the line of duty across the full record of this memorial — 4% of all 32,508 officers honored here.
In NY, 99 of 2,147 officers were lost to cardiac events in the line of duty — 4.6% of this state's fallen. That is 0.6 percentage points above the national rate of 4%.
At Buffalo Police Department, 3 of 51 officers on record were lost to cardiac events in the line of duty — 5.9% of this agency's fallen.
National Cause Distribution
How Cardiac compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. Frank C. Wypijewski's cause is highlighted.
How Frank C. Wypijewski Compares
When Cardiac Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Cardiac deaths across the full memorial record. Frank C. Wypijewski is highlighted in Mar.
Others Who Wore This Badge
50 officers from Buffalo Police Department are honored on badge.nw. Showing the 16 most recent.
