Buffalo Police Department, New York
End of Watch: Saturday, April 15, 1922
Age: 64
Tour of Duty: 30 years
Badge Number: Not available
Cause of Death: Struck by train
Date of Incident: April 15, 1922
Weapon Used: Not available
Suspect Info: Not available
Patrolman Emil Woelffel was struck and killed by a train while on a guard post.
Due to a railroad worker's strike, Patrolman Woelffel was assigned to guard the New York Central Railroad Overpass at the corner of Niagara and Tonawanda Streets. At approximately 1530 hours, a light switch engine was traveling on the same tracks that Patrolman Woelffel was guarding. The train was traveling backward on the tracks and the operator never blew its whistle. The train struck Patrolman Woelffel and dragged him 20 feet along the tracks, fracturing his skull. Patrolman Woelffel died from his injuries before he could be taken to a hospital.
Patrolman Woelffel had served with the Buffalo Police Department for 30 years.