Press release
Today, the City of Batavia Police Department honored its deceased retirees at the 5th annual City of Batavia Flag Commemoration Ceremony. This event started in 2022 under the leadership of Police Chief Shawn Heubusch. The Ceremony is held annually in May and honors the deceased who served with, and retired from, the City of Batavia Police Department with 20+ years of service.
Our records show over 50 deceased members laid to rest at numerous cemeteries all around Genesee County and our area.
Pictured-Retired members
Each year in May, retired and/or current City of Batavia Police Department Members travel to all the sites of the deceased and place BPD Flags and holders at their grave site. This year Retired Youth Detective Richard Schauf, Retired Dispatcher Steve Robinson and Retired Lieutenant Greg Steele placed the flags. H. E. Turner & Co. Funeral Home generously donates the flags, flag holders and placards each year. The Batavia Police Benevolent Association donated the yellow carnations that were provided to family/loved ones of the deceased at this ceremony.
Video of Commemoration Ceremony with Chief Christopher Camp-May 27, 2026
This years event was held in front of the St. Joseph Mausoleum located at the St. Joseph Cemetery on Ellicott Street, Batavia. Laid to rest in this Mausoleum are retired members: Robert DeFreze, Frank Lachnicht, Anthony Monteleone, Richard Pastecki, Frank Rodon, Gasper (Sam) Baudanza and Edward Santora. Below is a list of names that the City of Batavia Police Department has in their records of deceased members who retired from the City of Batavia Police Department with over 20 years of service. To all deceased members, we thank you for your service and may you rest in peace: James Aquino, Clarence Bates, Harley Bort, James Burdett, Robert Casper Sr., Thomas Cummerton, Robert Currier, Earl Davis, Albert DelBridge, Robert DeToye, Robert Dombrowski, Thomas Donaghue, Larry Falkowski, John Gravante, Forrest Gray, Matty Hamera, Arthur Hofmaster, Anthony Horsch, Dawson Kendall, Daniel Kopper, William Krantz, Edward Kulikowski, Edward LaValley, William Lewis, Arthur Luplow, Andrew McCulley, George McCurdy, David Mullen, Peter Nichols, Angelo Paradise, Arthur Richenburg, Roger Richardson, Mark Robinson, Bernard Ronan, David Ronan, Frank Rugala, Carl Salway, Salvatore Sanfratello, Thomas Sanfratello, Lloyd (Bud) Silvernail, Milford Smith, Stanley Smith, Neal Smock, Charles Snell, Herbert Snyder, Frank Spiotta, Richard Vanderwalker, and Jane Wistners.
Thank you to all who attended and assisted with this event. If you are aware of any individuals who served with the City of Batavia Police Department for over 20 years, are now deceased and laid to rest in the Genesee County area and are not listed above please reach out to Becky Patterson rpatterson@batavianewyork.com to provide their information.
Sourced via CRIMEWATCH®: https://crimewatch.net/us/ny/genesee/batavia-pd/138661/post/5th-annual-city-batavia-police-department-commemoration-ceremony
E. Douglas King served the City of Batavia Police Department from 1967-1988. Seven years in uniform and 141/2 in the Detective Bureau.
“We’re all brothers, To recognize these men who devoted so much of their life to the job. A lot of people don’t realize what they’ve sacrificed, their families, not being home at night, being called in at 2,3, or 4am.”
King says there are several retired members who get together each Wednesday at Tim Hortons. He says his carnation from today is for all of the officers and will be placed in his bible at home.
Guy Nichols and Pam Starowitz, whose dad, Peter Nichols, served with the City of Batavia Police Department walking the beat and as a motorcycle cop from the 1950s to 1979, passed away in 1980 in his sleep. They show up every year to place a flower on his grave at St. Joseph’s Cemetery. If you have ever been to Applebee’s, he is pictured on the wall on the left in the entryway of the restaurant.
