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Case Description
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In the early morning hours of October 20, 1977, the life of Cheektowaga Police Officer David J. Tolsma was tragically cut short. The 32-year-old U.S. Navy veteran and six-year veteran of the police force was responding to a robbery in progress at a Holiday Inn on Genesee Street. It was there that he was shot and killed.

The man responsible for Officer Tolsma's death was a 23-year-old escapee who had been on the run for three days. A massive manhunt ensued, and 13 hours after the fatal sho ...Read More
Victim Details

Patrol David J. Tolsma

Male

White / Caucasian

Cheektowaga

NY

1977-10-20

32

David

Tolsma

01/09/2026