Roll of Honor
Incident
Patrolman Thomas Sullivan succumbed to injuries sustained on October 29th, 1941, when he was involved in an automobile crash at the intersection of Fillmore Avenue and Paderewski Drive while responding to a domestic disturbance call.
Their patrol car was struck by a taxi that failed to yield to their lights and sirens.
His partner, Patrolman Louis Vastola, died one day after the accident.
Patrolman Sullivan had served with the Buffalo Police Department for 15 years.
Survivors
He was survived by his wife and three children.
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
BO-US-NY-788B712F- 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.
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Tributes
I never knew you. I am standing here anyway.
Patrolman Sullivan gave the Buffalo Police Department 15 years.
Thank you for your service to the Buffalo community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Patrolman Sullivan.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
Patrolman Thomas Dennis Sullivan is one of 10,088 officers lost to accidents in the line of duty across the full record of this memorial — 31% of all 32,508 officers honored here.
In NY, 645 of 2,147 officers were lost to accidents in the line of duty — 30% of this state's fallen. That is 1 percentage points below the national rate of 31%.
At Buffalo Police Department, 26 of 51 officers on record were lost to accidents in the line of duty — 51% of this agency's fallen.
National Cause Distribution
How Accident compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. Thomas Dennis Sullivan's cause is highlighted.
How Thomas Dennis Sullivan Compares
When Accident Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Accident deaths across the full memorial record. Thomas Dennis Sullivan is highlighted in Feb.
Incident Location
Others Who Wore This Badge
50 officers from Buffalo Police Department are honored on badge.nw. Showing the 16 most recent.
