Frank C. Wypijewski
Agency patch
Detective

Frank C. Wypijewski

Buffalo Police Department — Buffalo, NY
Cardiac
End of Watch March 20, 1938
Age 49
Tour of Duty 23 yrs
Gender Male

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

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Stewardship
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Added to badge.nw
August 2, 2026
Last updated
August 2, 2026

Honored here by 1 tribute.

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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

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

Service Record

End of Watch March 20, 1938
Tour of Duty 23 yrs
Age 49
Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Cardiac

The Sacrifice · Cardiac

Frank is one of 1,307 officers lost to cardiac events in the United States, 4.7% of the 27,551 remembered there.

34,102 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 1938, 8 officers in the United States were lost to cardiac events, the 72nd heaviest of 139 years on record. The heaviest was 2014, with 24.

Every year on record · United States
II

Who

Frank was 49. Of the 1,249 lost to cardiac events in the United States whose age is recorded, half were between 43 and 55; the middle age was 48. Frank had served 23 years; the middle length of service was 15 years.

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

When

March holds 7.6% of these deaths in the United States; January holds the most, 9.6%. Sundays: 13.9%.

By month
By day of the week
IV

How

Cardiac deaths account for 4.7% of all 27,551 deaths in the United States, the 4th most common cause.

Every cause
Weapons recorded
V

His people

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

Across the years

Detective Frank C. Wypijewski

Buffalo Police Department · End of Watch March 20, 1938

Where the Name Is Cut

National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial · Panel 53-E

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