Cheektowaga Police Department, New York
End of Watch: Tuesday, October 29, 2002
Age: 44
Tour of Duty: 15 years
Badge Number: Not available
Cause of Death: Automobile crash
Date of Incident: October 29, 2002
Weapon Used: Not available
Suspect Info: Not available
Detective Wasyl Potienko was killed in an automobile accident on Broadway near Lackawanna Street.
Detective Potienko was en route to lunch when his unmarked patrol car was struck by a recycling truck and then pushed into the path of an oncoming pickup truck. Detective Potienko was thrown from his car and received fatal injuries. He was transferred to Erie County Medical Center where he succumbed to his injuries a short time later.
Detective Potienko had served with the Cheektowaga Police Department for 15 years. He is survived by his wife.