Sergeant Thomas Sanfratello was killed in the line of duty after an altercation at Batavia Downs Gaming & Hotel; the community mourns the loss of a dedicated officer.
Sergeant Thomas Sanfratello was killed in the line of duty after an altercation at Batavia Downs Gaming & Hotel; the community mourns the loss of a dedicated officer.
In a tragic incident early Sunday morning at Batavia Downs Gaming & Hotel, New York, Genesee County Sheriff’s Sergeant Thomas Sanfratello, a respected 32-year veteran of the force, lost his life in the line of duty. The Batavia Police Department reported that two individuals were arrested in connection with his death following a disturbance at the casino’s bar.
According to Batavia Police Chief Shawn Heubusch, Sgt. Sanfratello was working a special assignment detail when the police were called to the scene. The sergeant had escorted Michael J. Elmore and Lyndsey Jean Wilcox out of the casino after a reported disturbance. The situation escalated when Wilcox became combative, attacking the 54-year-old sergeant.
The altercation took a deadly turn when Elmore re-entered the scene, armed with a large piece of jewelry, described by police as a “metal, thick rope,” which he used to attack Sgt. Sanfratello. Additionally, Elmore is alleged to have placed the sergeant in a chokehold and beaten him, leading to Sanfratello becoming unresponsive. Despite the efforts of Batavia Downs security staff and bystanders performing CPR, Sgt. Sanfratello was pronounced dead at the scene.
Elmore, 33, faces three felony charges, including aggravated manslaughter in the first degree, aggravated felony assault upon a police officer, and felony burglary in the second degree. Wilcox, 39, has been charged with felony burglary in the second degree and attempted felony assault in the second degree.
Sgt. Sanfratello dedicated over three decades of his life to the Genesee County Sheriff’s Office, starting as a dispatcher in 1992, before becoming a deputy sheriff in 1996 and later a sergeant in 2007. His commitment to service was recognized with two Deputy of the Year awards, underscoring the significant loss his passing represents to the community and law enforcement.
The Batavia Police Department is urging anyone who witnessed the altercation or has video footage of the incident to come forward and contact the Detective Bureau, as investigations continue.
The community and the Genesee County Sheriff’s Office are mourning the loss of a dedicated and beloved public servant. Sgt. Sanfratello’s untimely death serves as a sombre reminder of the risks law enforcement officers face daily while protecting their communities.
