Patrolman

Thomas Dennis Sullivan

Buffalo Police Department — Buffalo, NY
Accident
End of Watch February 22, 1954
Age 39
Tour of Duty 15 yrs
The Vigil Panel 89 ›
Gender Male

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

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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 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

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

Service Record

End of Watch February 22, 1954
Tour of Duty 15 yrs
Age 39
Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Accident

The Sacrifice · Accident

Thomas is one of 8,275 officers lost to accidents in the United States, 30% 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
  2. See the roll
Compare against
I

Time

In 1954, 69 officers in the United States were lost to accidents, the 51st heaviest of 174 years on record. The heaviest was 1929, with 118.

Every year on record · United States
II

Who

Thomas was 39. Of the 7,718 lost to accidents in the United States whose age is recorded, half were between 29 and 46; the middle age was 36. Thomas had served 15 years; the middle length of service was 6 years.

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

When

February holds 7.2% of these deaths in the United States; August holds the most, 9.5%. Mondays: 13.4%.

By month
By day of the week
IV

How

Accident deaths account for 30% of all 27,551 deaths in the United States, the 2nd most common cause.

Every cause
Weapons recorded
V

His people

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

Across the years
VI

Where

Patrolman Thomas Dennis Sullivan

Buffalo Police Department · End of Watch February 22, 1954

Where the Name Is Cut

National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial · Panel 28-W

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