Roll of Honor
Incident
Detective Dennis Wustenhoff was killed when a bomb blew apart his unmarked police car in front of his home in Patchogue, New York.
The case has never been solved and the suspect(s) remain unidentified.
Detective Wustenhoff was a veteran of the Vietnam War.
Survivors
He was survived by his wife and three children.
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
BO-US-NY-97E09F83- 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 served 1985 to 1993. You served too, before the badge - different uniform, same idea. You go where you are sent and you do not get to pick the call.
Detective Wustenhoff served with the Suffolk County Police Department.
Thank you for your service to the Yaphank community. Thank you for your service before it. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, brother.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
Military Service
Dennis J. Wustenhoff served in the Army (1967â1969) before joining law enforcement.
Detective Dennis J. Wustenhoff is one of 17,623 officers killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty across the full record of this memorial — 54.2% of all 32,508 officers honored here.
In NY, 754 of 2,147 officers were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 35.1% of this state's fallen. That is 19.1 percentage points below the national rate of 54.2%.
At Suffolk County Police Department, 7 of 27 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 25.9% of this agency's fallen.
National Cause Distribution
How Felonious compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. Dennis J. Wustenhoff's cause is highlighted.
How Dennis J. Wustenhoff Compares
Offender Outcome
At large
When Felonious Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. Dennis J. Wustenhoff is highlighted in Feb.
Weapons Used Against Officers
Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. Dennis J. Wustenhoff was killed by explosives; bomb.
Others Who Wore This Badge
26 officers from Suffolk County Police Department are honored on badge.nw. Showing the 16 most recent.
