Plainfield Police Division, New Jersey
End of Watch: Saturday, September 18, 1971
Age: 51
Tour of Duty: 24 years
Badge Number: Not available
Cause of Death: Gunfire
Date of Incident: September 18, 1971
Weapon Used: Gun; Unknown type
Suspect Info: Acquitted
Patrolman Frank Buczek was shot in the back of the head and killed while working a special detail in a church parking lot at West 6th and Liberty Streets. It is thought that he was ambushed from behind and his service weapon stolen. He was killed just two blocks away from where Patrolman Robert Perry was killed on July 1, 1970.
Two suspects were arrested, members of the Plainfield, New Jersey Black Panther Party. Suspects later became members of the Black Liberation Arm. Both were acquitted at trial.
He had served with the agency for 24 years and was survived by his wife and three children. He was six months away from retirement.