Winfield S. Willis
Agency patch
Patrolman

Winfield S. Willis

Buffalo Police Department — Buffalo, NY
Felonious
End of Watch August 22, 1921
Age 41
The Vigil Panel 41 ›
Gender Male

Incident

Patrolman Winfield Willis was shot and killed while attempting to arrest two suspects at a bar fight in the area of Amherst and East Streets. One of the suspects was arrested and sentenced to 20 years for his murder. He turned down a chance to be paroled and said he wanted to spend the rest of his life in prison. He died in prison on October 28, 1976.

Survivors

Patrolman Willis was survived by his wife, son, and three daughters.

In Our Keeping

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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.
Patrolman Willis served with the Buffalo Police Department.
Thank you for your service to the Buffalo community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Patrolman Willis.

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

Agency

Type Police Department
Location Buffalo, Erie County, NY
Platform Identity bpd.erie.ny.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch August 22, 1921
Age 41
Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious
Weapon Gun

The Sacrifice · Felonious

Winfield is one of 15,743 officers killed feloniously in the United States, 57.1% of the 27,551 remembered there.

34,117 officers are remembered on this memorial. Each number below is one of them.

  1. See the roll
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Compare against
I

Time

In 1921, 248 officers in the United States were killed feloniously, more than in any other year.

Every year on record · United States
II

Who

Winfield was 41. Of the 14,220 killed feloniously in the United States whose age is recorded, half were between 31 and 47; the middle age was 38.

Age at death
Where he stood among them
Age by years of service
III

When

August holds 8.9% of these deaths in the United States; December holds the most, 9.4%. Mondays: 13.8%.

By month
By day of the week
IV

How

Felonious deaths account for 57.1% of all 27,551 deaths in the United States, the most common cause. The weapon recorded was gun, in 22.8% of these deaths.

Every cause
Weapons recorded
V

His people

Buffalo Police Department has 51 officers remembered here, Winfield among them.

Across the years
VI

Where

Patrolman Winfield S. Willis

Buffalo Police Department · End of Watch August 22, 1921

Where the Name Is Cut

National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial · Panel 23-W

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