Joseph J. Wachowiak

Erie County Sheriff's Office — Buffalo, NY

Felonious

End of Watch November 4, 1948

Age 49

The Vigil Panel 85 ›

Gender Male

Incident Service The Sacrifice Department 4

Incident

Deputy Joseph Wachowiak succumbed to head injuries after being struck on the head during a jail escape involving five inmates at the Erie County Jail in Buffalo. At 9:00 p.m., when the inmates were being locked in their cells for the night, a prisoner grabbed a hidden mop handle, beat Deputy Wachowiak, and locked him in a jail cell. He rallied four other prisoners to escape with him. All five were captured. The 31-year-old leader was convicted of first-degree murder and sentenced to life. He died in Dannemora Prison on November 1, 1954.

Survivors

Deputy Wachowiak was survived by his wife and three children.

In Our Keeping

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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.
Deputy Wachowiak served with the Erie County Sheriff's Office.
Thank you for your service to the Buffalo community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Deputy Wachowiak.

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

Agency

Department Erie County Sheriff's Office

Location Buffalo, NY

Platform Identity ecso.erie.ny.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch November 4, 1948

Age 49

Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious

Weapon Blunt object

Offender Sentenced to life

Deputy Joseph J. Wachowiak 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 Erie County Sheriff's Office, 5 of 5 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 100% of this agency's fallen.

Erie County Sheriff's Office

of 5 officers

100% Felonious

NY — Statewide

754

of 2,147 officers

35.1% Felonious

Nationwide

17,623

of 32,508 officers

54.2% Felonious