These are file photos of Sgt. Thomas A. Sanfratello working on one of his favorite details -- law enforcement at Darien Lake concerts.
In 2012, I did a "ride along" with patrols at the concerts to get a first-hand perspective of what went into dealing with all the issues that used to arise on concert nights.
While I had run into Tom on patrol before, working with him at Darien Lake was really my first chance to get to know him a bit. He struck me as kind, professional, caring, and dedicated.
He took the job seriously without taking himself seriously. There was a complete absence of ego in his approach to enforcing the law.
When two young people climbed up a communications tower, I remember him being simultaneously amused by the folly of it and sincerely concerned about their safety.
At Saturday's funeral service for Sgt. Sanfratello, Sheriff William Sheron spoke of "Tommy" taking charge at Darien Lake.
"As we all know, Tom was the guy out at Darien Lake," Sheron said. "He was the first one there, and he was the last one out. He oversaw that venue for years and years. And again, when Tommy was on, I didn't worry about anything. Tommy, I knew, had things under control. We were dealing with tens of thousands of people and many, many officers. Tommy had it all under control."
Unrelated from Darien Lake, we received two more tributes to Sgt. Sanfratello to share.
Eric Olson, retired from the Sheriff's Office:
I’ve known Tom for a long time. He is a true friend and law enforcement brother. I will miss the 4th of July gatherings and the occasional conversations here and there.
From Deborah Shea, principal financial clerk, Sheriff's Office:
As we navigate through these next few days, I’ve thought a lot about my boss, my friend, my co-worker and most of all, my annoying “big brother” this week.
That’s what comes to my mind when I think of Sgt. Tom (Tommy) Sanfratello.We worked 50 feet from each other for 12 years, and we argued and teased one another just like brother and sister, even crying once in a while. He was so maddening at times, but at the end of the day, we were friends, and tomorrow was another day. And when he walked out of the office last Friday and said, as always, “See you Monday, maybe,” it was not supposed to be goodbye!
I would sing along to the radio, and he’d say, “Don’t quit your day job,” and of course I’d say, “You wish!” He’d also say, every day, 10 times a day, “Whatever, Shea!” And on occasion, in typical Tommy fashion, he’d tell you, “Sink or swim!” I never thought I’d ever miss these words!
His presence In our office was larger than any of us could have imagined until we walked back in Monday morning and the loss hit me immediately.
He had his quirks, his funny habits and definitely a Hot Wheels and Lego fetish, but it was him and who he was. He loved to read and joke around and make his funny comments. He loved having his annual Easter egg hunt and fantasy football league. He wore many hats in our office and has big shoes to fill, and it will be a hard act to follow. No matter what he did in his life and career, his biggest accomplishments are his 3 amazing kids, Ian, Kyla and Lexi. He loved them more than life itself.He was not a fall-all-over-you or mushy kind of guy, but he honestly had a big heart and really cared for the people closest to him, especially his family, friends and our department for sure.
Thanks for your friendship and all the laughs.
You will be, as they say, forever missed and never forgotten!
Fly high GS 9
Finally, retired Batavia PD lieutenant James Henning had this to say about Saturday's service:
What a tremendous outpouring of support shown today for the family, friends, fellow citizens and coworkers of GS-9!
The entire wake and funeral service was incredibly organized and a fitting tribute to a great man and public servant.
GCSO, BPD, LPD & NYSP did a fantastic job of working shoulder to shoulder to make this all possible, along with the numerous fire departments and EMS in Genesee County.
Also, the entire staff of GCC for hosting this memorial and area restaurants for catering the gathering at the college afterward.
The police and fire agencies present were amazing from as far away as Chicago PD and NYPD.
The casket of Sgt. Thomas A. Sanfratello, who died in the line of duty on Sunday morning, was carried by Hearst on Friday morning from the Gilmartin Funeral Home to the Call Arena at GCC.
The route went down Park Road, past the Sheriff's Office, then to Route 98, to West Saile Drive, to Bank Street, to Assemblyman R. Stephen Hawley Drive.
The casket was then carried into Call Arena by a Sheriff's Office detail prior to calling hours on Friday afternoon.
Sanfratello's funeral will be held in the Call Arena at 11 a.m. on Saturday.
Chief Deputy Joesph Graff holds his phone with Morgan Blann on Facetime leading a moment of silence in honor of Sgt. Thomas A. Sanfratello on Thursday night at Van Detta Stadium in Batavia. Photo by Howard Owens.
Sgt. Thomas A. Sanfratello, who died in the line of duty early Sunday morning, was honored by about 50 first responders and family members with a mile run around the track at Van Detta Stadium in Batavia.
The run was part of a national program called "Running For Heroes," which is comprised of young people who run in honor of a first responder who dies in the line of duty.
Thursday's run was coordinated with Morgan Blann, a 13-year-old from New Jersey who connected with runners in Batavia through Facetime and then her actual run was live streamed on Facebook.
Members of law enforcement in her community joined her on her run.
Morgan told the participants that since she was six, she's dreamed of working in law enforcement as a K-9 handler.
Chief Deputy Joesph Graff and Undersheriff Bradley Mazur with other participants in Thursday's "Running for Heroes" at Van Detta Stadium with Morgan Blann on Facetime. Photo by Howard Owens.
The Genesee County Sheriff’s Civil/Records oOffice will be temporarily closing at noon on Friday, March 15.
For all non-Civil/Records matters, please call:
585-343-5000 (non-emergency 911 Emergency Services Dispatch Center phone line)
585-345-3000 (administrative phone line)
9-1-1 for emergency matters
We apologize for any inconvenience this may cause but truly appreciate the community’s understanding and patience while we take the afternoon to honor our fallen comrade, Civil Bureau Sergeant Thomas A. Sanfratello.
The Civil/Records Office will resume normal weekday business hours (8:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.) on Monday, March 18.
NOTE: The Batavian reached out to current and former members of the Genesee County Sheriff's Office to write up remembrances of Sgt. Thomas A. Sanfratello, who died in the line of duty while serving and protecting his community on Sunday morning. Below are the remembrances we received. While we limited the request this round to people associated with the Sheriff's Office, we will publish more remembrances from the community if we receive a sufficient number. We invite other first responders, whether in law enforcement, fire services, EMS, or any community group, especially those of his friends and neighbors in Alexander, where he served as a town board member, to submit remembrances. Email your statements to howard@thebatavian.com, and please be sure to include at least "Sanfratello" in the subject line. If we receive a sufficient number by Friday evening, we will try to have them published by Saturday morning. Please also include your full name and any appropriate title in the body of the email.
Former Sheriff Gary Maha:
When I received the phone call early Sunday morning from a deputy, who was assigned to make notifications of Sgt. Tom Sanfratello’s death, I was shocked. I thought to myself that if this were going to happen to someone, it wouldn’t be Sergeant Sanfratello. He was outgoing, very friendly to everyone and easy to get along with. However, he knew how to do his job and would do it well. It has been very emotional as it has been with his family, friends and especially current and past members of the Genesee County Sheriff’s Office who knew and worked with Tom.
I remember when I hired him as a deputy sheriff in 1996. He was a young, thin guy working in dispatch. I am sure some thought why did they hire him as a deputy! I watched him mature, gain knowledge, and experience, and become an excellent officer. He was promoted to sergeant in 2007 and became an excellent road patrol supervisor and supervisor of the Civil Bureau.
He loved working for the Genesee County Sheriff’s Office and loved being a law enforcement officer. As someone said, “he would give you the shirt off his back if you needed it.” Tom was always dependable. If you asked him to do something, he would do it and do it right. He was instrumental in the implementation of our Public Safety Computer System and was a great source for younger officers with his 32 years of experience. He will be missed. RIP, Sergeant Sanfratello, and God Bless You.
Retired Chief Deputy Gordon Dibble:
I remember when Tommy started with the Sheriff's Office as a dispatcher. He was a skinny, twenty-two-year-old kid. When they hired him as a deputy sheriff, I remember thinking this is a mistake, he'll never cut it as a deputy. I was wrong. Tommy was like a sponge -- a quick learner, a problem solver, always wanting to know more.
Tommy filled out physically and got involved in as many things as he could. He was even on the SCUBA team. He was an overtime hog, working every extra detail that he could. I wonder how many hours he put in at Darien Lake Theme Park. He supervised almost every concert, working closely with the theme park managers to make concert nights go as smoothly as possible, and he was fearless. He was often first into a messy situation, leading from the front.
Tommy had a great sense of humor, a great smile, and the laugh of someone who enjoyed life. We shared many laughs together. We also shared an addiction. We were both addicted to Mountain Dew. My wife even shared an addiction with Tom: an addiction to the video game Candy Crush.
I am just one of many, many people who will greatly miss Tom.
Chief Deputy Joseph Graff:
The loss of Sgt. Sanfratello has been a tragedy for his family, our law enforcement family and our community. Tom was a valued resource. His most recent role was as the sergeant in charge of our civil division and warrants. Tom always made himself available, whether on duty or not, to answer a question or phone call and was often sought out for his expertise in civil matters.
Tom had a remarkable ability to recall sections of the law that are not often used and had a system of organization that kept things running. Even after 32 years in Law Enforcement, Tom was still willing to go out into our community and do the job. Tom’s heart was evident in the annual Easter egg hunt he would hold at his home, hiding thousands of eggs and inviting the families of our office.
It was an honor to have had the opportunity to know Tom professionally and personally. His presence will truly be missed in our lives. My thoughts and prayers are with the family of Sgt. Sanfratello. Godspeed GS 9.
Investigator Chad Minuto:
When I was approached by Howard to provide a memory or story about Tommy, it took me some time to comb through our past twenty years together.There are so many memories together that it would be impossible to choose just one. I think I would rather like to say a few words about my friend.
I myself became a lot closer to Tommy over the past seven years after being promoted to Investigator.I would visit Tommy daily to bend his ear.Tommy was the pulse of the department.He was highly adept at how our office operated and played a crucial role in keeping the “engine running.”Tommy was organized “In his own way” and took a systematic approach to everything he did.Tommy was an extremely hard worker, a devoted deputy, and someone who cared deeply about the Sheriff’s Office.His work ethic, experience, and wealth of knowledge will be irreplaceable.
Tommy not only loved the Sheriff’s Department, but above that, he loved his family and children.Tommy, himself, was a giant kid at heart.He was an avid collector of Hot Wheels and Legos, often traveling across the country to attend and work at toy shows. I remember the smile on Tommy’s face when I told him my son had become interested in Legos.Tommy would routinely show me sneak peeks of unreleased Legos and share his duplicates of Lego mini figures with my son.Personally, I think Tommy shared these Legos because he felt bad knowing that I would not find these in stores.Why, you ask? Well, Tommy had likely cleaned out the inventory locally.
These past few days have been so surreal, and it is still hard to wrap my head around the fact that Tommy is gone. I know there will be times in the weeks and months ahead when something will remind me of Tommy and stop me in my tracks. I welcome these moments, as they will ensure that I will never forget what Tommy meant to this department or me. We will miss you, GS-9!
Dispatcher Jason Holman:
Sgt. Sanfratello, the Sheriff's sergeant, provided a calm and consistent veteran command presence to our office. He was a leader and mentor to those around him. He had a large part in the training and development of most of the deputies and investigators we have now. His long career and vast experience were an asset to new patrols as they came into their own. His knowledge of the operations of our agency, both out on patrol and within the Civil and Records Departments, will be sorely missed and not easy to replace quickly. He oversaw special detail assignments/scheduling at locations such as Darien Lake and Batavia Downs. His command of the staff at those assignments will be difficult to replace.
He was also an advocate for the work we do in the dispatch center because of his history there. Many times, as the first point of contact with someone in need, that dispatcher can set the tone for a call for service or demonstrate the effectiveness and professionalism of the Genesee County Sheriff's Office. Sgt. Sanfratello understood the importance of recruiting, hiring, training and retaining quality Emergency Services Dispatchers.
As a former union president, he advocated for his members. He was always searching for and often finding ways to improve the quality of life, salary, and benefits provided to our staff.
On the other side, Tom Sanfratello, the man, was a son, brother, father, uncle and, significant other, friend to many who loved him. Outside of work, he had an affinity for collecting diecast cars, specifically Hot Wheels. That hobby took him all over the country to shows and swap meets and garnered him a whole different community of friends and colleagues that I'm sure are also feeling the pain of his loss. More recently, he had taken up collecting and building Lego sets. What started as fun for him and his youngest daughter, Lexi, turned into another hobby and a large collection. He was a family man who loved his children. Ian recently graduated from the Corrections Officer Academy at the top of his class, and I don't think you could wipe the smile off of Tom's face that week. He was very proud of Ian's accomplishments and the fact that he was able to work alongside him.
I'd also like to remind you that March 21 will be the one-year anniversary of Emergency Services Dispatcher Andrew Merkel's untimely passing. Our staff is also dealing with the weight of that anniversary. He shared many qualities with Tom and he is still sorely missed by many at our office.
Lastly, I'll leave you with something that has always struck home with me during a loss. For those who are hurting during this:
"Keep fighting. Persevere. Those who left us too soon are proud of you. Even though they may not have had the chance to say it."
Forgive me, as I don't recall where I once heard/saw that and could not tell you who may have said it. But some version of those words has stuck with me for a long time as I have dealt with loss in my own life.
Investigator James Diehl:
Tom was a man who never grew up. This is the best way I can describe Tom Sanfratello.
He loved collecting Hot Wheels cars and Legos. He got giddy like a kid on Christmas when new ones were going to be released or he found a rare Hot Wheels car.He had knowledge about the different types of cars, which ones were special, what codes meant what, and what cars he had that were overly impressive. Tom kept a bucket of Hot Wheels cars in a drawer in his office and would always tell people to take some for their kids or to hand out.
I’ll remember the fantasy football leagues that he organized and the drafts he would have at his house.
My kids and I will always remember the Easter Egg hunts that “Mr. Tom” put on at his house. Tom and I would discuss him prepping for the event, filling 1,000 eggs weeks before the event with candy, Lego figurines, and hot wheel cars, all the things he loved. When I arrived on the day of the event to help put eggs out, it would be three hours before, and he came out of the house with box after box after box of plastic eggs totaling somewhere in the 4 to 5 thousands.
At the same event, he would hide golden eggs with money or a ticket for a large Oliver’s candy chocolate Easter bunny. Tom did all this without asking for a dime.
In recent years, many of us who attended had to tell him to accept money towards it, but he would still rarely look for help. During the event, he would walk around with his daughter Lexi, watching her and all the other kids run and gather so many eggs they wouldn’t be able to carry the bag they brought with them, and he would smile and take it all in, seeing what kids got the cherished golden eggs. He would ask if the kids got enough, knowing full well that parents were carrying bags bigger than the kids.
Tom got the same smile on his face during Shop with a Cop. He would help organize the event and liked to float through the store watching kids shop and maybe looking for a stray rare Hot Wheels car at the same time. But I feel like seeing the kids smile and the happiness that was brought towards the kids and families on that day, the good interactions deputies had with people, and the light conversations that developed is what he liked most.
He brought this same love to talk to people, to joke, sarcastic banter, and kid-like fun to work as well. His office is a perfect display of his personality as it holds toys in every direction. There are multiple-sized Lego cars, Hot Wheels cars in display cases, and a wall of signed photos of Tom meeting actors, including Erik Estrada (Officer Frank Poncherello) and Larry Wilcox (Officer Jon Baker) from the TV Show CHIPS, Catherine Bach (Daisy Duke), WWE celebrities Brie and Nikki Bella, John Cena and Bryan Danielson, Candy Clark (Debby) from American Graffiti, Jim Kelly, and Brad Paisley along with so many others. Until recently, a Halloween skeleton dressed as a deputy would sit across from Tom in his office and scare half the people who walked into it.Closest to his chair, along his desk, were photos of his kids, Ian, Kyla, and “Lexi.”
As our many conversations would lead us to different topics, he talked about these kids often. He was proud of all of them, especially recently when Ian graduated from the Correctional Academy and was working at the Genesee County Jail. As conversations about kids usually go through the ups and downs of life and the “he/she should do this or that” moments, I remember Tom saying that, most importantly, he wanted them to “do what makes them happy.” I’ll miss our daily conversations, our banters, him telling me like a dad that I’m wrong and being unreasonable. We had many discussions, conversations, and arguments, and Tom could always understand where you were coming from, even if he didn’t agree.
Retired Investigator Pete Welker:
Tommy and I went through the police academy together back in 1996. We were young and excited to become Sheriff’s deputies. Going through the academy and then field training (FTO) can be very stressful for recruits. We helped each other along the way and ultimately made it through training. We then served in different capacities alongside each other for 30 years at the Sheriff’s Office, as well as serving on the union board together for probably 20 of those years.
Tommy was a very productive deputy (sergeant). Even in his latter years, Tommy would not only take a good amount of overtime, but he would be sure to get things done while working it. If he took DWI overtime, he would often times make an arrest during that shift. Tommy was a fixture at the Darien Lake concerts during the summer, supervised those details for years, and could somehow make chaos seem manageable. He was in charge of the Civil Office, in charge of warrants, and tasked with final approval and merging of all reports.
Tommy could be stern at times and was a stickler for making sure paperwork was complete, accurate, and on time. That said, however, as union president and even as a union rep before that, Tommy was the first one to stand up for the guys when labor-management issues arose.
Tommy was very proud of all of his children and spoke of them often. He and I would usually chat in his office a couple of times a week. You don’t realize how much you talk to someone until they are no longer there to talk to. In today’s society, the term “cop” has grown to mean so much more than just someone who makes arrests. It takes a wide array of skills to maneuver your way through serving communities in today’s world. Tommy had those skills and was a wealth of knowledge. Tommy loved being a cop and truly wanted to help people in any way that he could. We are all saddened by the loss of our friend and co-worker, Sgt. Thomas Sanfratello and it gives me some peace knowing that Tommy took his last breath on this earth doing what he loved and was sworn to do: protect and serve.
Those that were effected and those that knew him professionally will miss Sergeant Sanfratello, the Deputy. We will miss the playful sarcasm, the laughter, his caring nature, our conversations, experienced wisdom, youthful spirit, partner, father, and friend. We will miss the man who never really grew up.
Sergeant Tom Sanfratello was often the liaison between the Sheriff’s Office and many other agencies. I believe he loved the interactions, the communication, and, at times, even the chaos that went with the job as well. He loved to work at the Sheriff’s Office and especially at Darien Lake Concert events. It would be rare to work there without him, and he will be missed this year. He would take on so many additional duties and always answer when you needed advice or had questions. He always was there for anyone who needed him.
Those who were affected and those who knew him professionally will miss Sgt. Sanfratello, the deputy. We will miss his playful sarcasm, laughter, caring nature, our conversations, experienced wisdom, youthful spirit, partner, father, and friend. We will miss the man who never really grew up.
Retired Dispatcher Gary Diegelman:
I first met Tom when he came into communications in February 1992. He was always willing to learn and fast to learn. Tom always had a great attitude. I remember him always smiling and laughing. He was very excited to have been hired as a deputy sheriff. He excelled as a road deputy, and after being promoted to sergeant, Tom never forgot where he started in communications. Every day, he would stop in to say hi. If he needed help, he knew dispatchers were a good place to start. This will leave a huge hole in the Sheriff's Office. It such a tragic end to a well-loved professional, coworker and friend.
Retired Deputy Brian Thompson:
Tommy rose through the ranks with hard work and determination. As a patrol officer we got along well and worked on cases together. As a sergeant, he did an excellent job streamlining report-taking and was always available to help with a question or glitch in the systems incorporated over the years. I always appreciated his patience with me or assistance in getting reports done, in the database and recovered for court cases. Enjoyed a lot of laughs and tears with Tom over the years. Our prayers and deepest condolences are with family and friends.
Retired Deputy Chris Erion:
Two things stand out when I think of Tom.He was a supervisor, and where he really excelled was his decisiveness.He didn’t just sit on the sideline giving directives, keeping his uniform clean.He followed through with his own directives and was willing to walk shoulder to shoulder with other members of law enforcement into any kind of hornet’s nest we may have encountered. I saw him do this on many occasions when it was called for.When I learned about his final call at the Downs, it sounded just like Tom to make a decision, and go straight towards the problem to restore order.
The other thing that really pops out when I think of Tom is how he loved his children. This was so obvious. If he were having a bad day or upset about some circumstance, that would all go away when he started to talk about some event, activity, or success of one of his children. He was very proud of them!
Lest we forget his Hot Wheels collection – if you didn’t know the difference between a Matchbox and a Hot Wheels, Tom would quickly, thoroughly, and with great passion explain the difference.
Dispatcher Nate Fix:
Tom will be sorely missed. He was not only a born leader in this organization but someone I looked up to; I've been with Tommy since the late 90s at Darien Lake, now Six Flags, as the concert lieutenant. Personally, for the last 15 years, I've worked extremely closely with him. There are endless stories of the nights with Tommy and his leadership at Darien Lake and and how well he did. Tom will mostly be missed by me bedcaue of our 20-year relationship at Darien Lake concerts.
He was a very giving person, particularly started four years ago with his daughter's Easter egg hunt -- 4,000 Easter eggs, doing it all with his own money. He would put all the Easter eggs together with his daughter Alexei.
Those are just small things that Tommy did. In the end, you look back, and you realize how generous he was.
Not only will I miss him as a comrade here at the facility, but the town board in Alexander will also miss him. He worked great with the Alexander Fire Department.
It was a year this month that we also lost (Dispatcher) Andy Merkle. So that's also been playing on our minds a year later, we're kind of going through something similar with someone we work with and it's unexpected.
Tom was a pillar of this organization. There are things that he did behind the scenes of this organization that we're going to have to figure out. I just wish he had the time and took the time to retire and enjoy his retirement and see it. But his long hard work doesn't go unnoticed in his years of service.
And I can't forget our daily talks as union presidents. He was DSA and I was GCSEA.
I hope the Sanfratello family finds comfort in knowing how many people truly love their brother, their uncle, and their father.
Genesee County Legislature Chairwoman Shelley Stein added to the many condolences expressed for the loss of Sgt. Thomas A. Sanfratello, who died this past Sunday during an encounter with an individual at Batavia Downs.
Stein said the 54-year-old was a graduate of Alexander High School, a huge Buffalo Sabres fan, and an avid fan of the New York Yankees. He was also a devoted dad who loved spending time with family, especially his children.
He began his career on Feb. 29, 1992 at the Genesee County Sheriff’s Office as a dispatcher and was appointed deputy sheriff in 1996 and 11 years later road patrol sergeant. During his years of service, he twice earned Deputy of the Year and was awarded several commendations, for which colleagues have spoken nothing but praise about his professionalism and contributions.
“This Legislature body mourns his loss,” Stein said Wednesday during the group’s meeting at the Old Court House. “Our thoughts and prayers go out to his family. His impact on our community stands as his legacy. May we all find comfort in knowing he was protecting us in his service. May you rest in peace, Tom.”
Sanfratello was born in Batavia to Anthony and Dorothy Sanfratello and died on March 10 in the line of duty “while serving and protecting the citizens of Genesee County,” Stein said.
She asked for a moment of silence before beginning the Legislature meeting to honor a man who has been held in high regard by countless municipal, law enforcement and community members. The county's Old Court House cupola can be seen lit up in blue each evening, and flags have been lowered in Sanfratello's memory.
The Deputy Sheriff’s Association has established a fundraiser to help Sanfratello’s family with expenses, and calling hours from 2 to 8 p.m. Friday and an 11 a.m. funeral service have been set for Call Arena at Genesee Community College, 1 College Road, Batavia, with a burial at St. Joseph’s Cemetery.
Sanfratello, who was referred to on Wednesday by fellow law enforcement as a friendly, go-to guy for answers and an incredible human being, is survived by his mother and children, Ian, Kyla, and Alexis Sanfratello; his wife; sisters, nieces, and nephews; his partner; two great-nieces; two great-nephews; along with many cousins and countless friends.
“He also leaves his brothers and sisters in law enforcement,” Stein said.
A GoFundMe campaign has been set up to assist the family of Sgt. Thomas Sanfratello, who died in the line of duty on Sunday.
The Deputy Sheriff's Association organized the campaign and will ensure the money is distributed to the family. The Batavian confirmed that this is a DSA-backed fundraiser.
The association set a goal of $50,000. More than $8,000 has been raised so far.
While a narrative of events at Batavia Downs early Sunday morning that led to the death of Sgt. Thomas A. Sanfratello was shared at a press conference on Wednesday, the 32-year veteran of the force was remembered as a great co-worker, good friend, and loving father.
Sheriff William Sheron said, "Wow. Unbelievable person. I have known Tommy since he began. He was just an incredible human being. He was always there for everybody else. He had many important functions here in the department. He ran our civil department. He was on the State Sheriffs Association accreditation programs as an assessor. He oversaw our Darien Lake details. As you know, we have had many, many concerts out there and many, many thousands of people. He ran them flawlessly. Tommy was one that we counted on, and any time he was involved, we knew we didn't have to worry about anything."
He added later, "Tommy never said, 'No.' If you needed something, Tommy was there. It didn't matter who you were or what time of day or night it was; if he could help you, he would help you. The guys could always use them as a resource, too, you know. If they had something they weren't quite certain of, 'Okay, let's ask Tommy. Tommy will know.'"
District Attorney Kevin Finnell said, " I'd like to add that I also have known Tom since he first hit the road. We talked on a regular basis about cases and issues. He'd often call and say, 'I think I know the answer, but he always did. He never lost his enthusiasm for the job and for what he did. He was a very, very good police officer, and he was a better man. So we will all suffer a loss for a long time to come. We will miss him dearly. I'd also like to express my thanks for the community support thus far, the outpouring of support, not only for the Sanfratello family, but in the assistance of this investigation."
Chief Shawn Heubusch Photo by Howard Owens
Batavia Police Chief Shawn Heubusch said, "Tommy was a resource for every law enforcement officer in this county, not just within the sheriff's office. I mean, I personally called Tom on many occasions to ask for advice on something, whether it dealt with a civil matter or whatever. And he never said no. He always answered his phone. He was one of the first guys that I ever met when I got to Batavia. He was just a great guy, and, you know, just a snippet from the videos before this encounter occurred, Tom was talking to people within the casino, and he's smiling and laughing with them. I mean, that's just Tom's personality."
Sanfratello's son, Ian Sanfratello, closed out the press conference by reading a written statement that concluded, "I want everybody to know my dad. My dad was one of a kind. An amazing dad, son, brother and co-worker. He loved my sisters, Lexi and Kyla with all of his heart and he loved to spend time with us. I know we will all cherish the memories we have with him. He will never be forgotten. He will be missed immensely by all who had the chance to not only know him but also talk to him. And he will always be loved."
The press conference opened with Undersheriff Bradley Mazur and Heubusch recounting the events of Sunday morning at Batavia Downs, beginning with the call of a disturbance in 34 Rush, one of the bars in the casino, at 12:43 a.m.
Mazur said there were two individuals involved. Wait staff had refused further drink service to both patrons. They were asked to leave. Sanfratello was escorting the female out of the casino when she became combative. She hit the sergeant, he said. She was taken into custody.
The male defendant, who had apparently exited the casino, returned to the lobby and "a physical struggle ensued with the male defendant.
Sanfratello radioed for assistance. Patrol units from the Sheriff's Office, Batavia PD, and State Police responded.
Mercy EMS also responded.
Ian Sanfratello Photo by Howard Owens
Civilians and Batavia Downs security staff became involved in the struggle to restrain the male defendant.
"Initially, a single Batavia police officer began heading towards the Downs to assist sheriff's deputies as needed," Heubusch said. While en route, further radio transmissions indicated that CPR was in progress, and yelling and screaming could be heard in the background."
Upon arrival, the officer observed a male and female in custody but reported that they continued to "violently struggle" with officers.
Attempts to revive Sanfratello were unsuccessful, and later, a Genesee County Coroner pronounced him dead.
Criminal investigators from the Sheriff's Office responded, as did command staff from the departments. After further consultation, the investigation was turned over to Batavia PD.
"This is an ongoing investigation and the casino was very busy that night," Heubusch said. "We're asking anyone who may have witnessed this incident and or may have digital evidence -- videos or photos -- to contact our detective bureau."
The press conference was then opened to questions from the more than a dozen members of local and regional news organizations present.
Heubush was asked to elaborate on the struggle with the defendants.
"They were resisting arrest," Heubusch said. "It's obvious in the videos that the subjects were not going into custody without a fight. So, they were physically resisting arrest very violently."
What were they doing specifically?
"I can't get into the details of what that was," Heubusch said. "But the video demonstrates that they resisted arrest violently."
On the arrest report, the charge for aggravated manslaughter includes mention of a "deadly weapon." Asked if that was statutory language or if the chain is being considered a deadly weapon, Finnell said, "It's a statutory language, but the chain is the focus of that language."
Heubusch was asked to further explain the use of the "metal chain" (the term used in the charging documents) allegedly deployed by the defendant. The police department later put out a statement clarifying that it was a piece of jewelry.
"During the altercation, you can see one of the defendants, the male defendant, remove a large piece of jewelry from around his neck, a chain or a thick metal rope that was used during the struggle," Heubusch said. I can't get into the details of what happened with that, but it was used as part of the attack."
Heubusch confirmed that the defendant used a chokehold against Sanfratello.
He was asked if the defendant swung the chain to strike Sanfratello or if the defendant wrapped the chain around his fist and hit Sanfratello.
"I can't get into those types of details. That's part of the investigation," Heubusch said.
QR Code for link to submission for for citizens to submit video and photos of incident at Batavia Downs.
Asked if the defendants submitted to blood tests for drugs or alcohol, Finnell said, "There's been no direct blood testing that I know of. It's procedure for the jail to do a screening for drugs and alcohol (at intake). My understanding is they were not initially cooperative with that process; however, they may have ultimately done that."
In response to a question, Finnell said an autopsy has been completed, but the report has not been delivered.
In response to a question about the apparent ongoing struggle with the defendants after other officers arrived on scene, Heubusch said he is not aware of any other officers being injured.
Asked who performed CPR, Batavia Downs security staff or civilians, and who assisted in subduing the defendants, Heubusch said, "There were several members of the Batavia Downs security staff as well as bystanders who were both performing CPR on and off as well as holding the defendants down to help us get them into custody."
Finnell left open the possibility of additional charges once the investigation is completed.
On Tuesday, the judge in Town of Batavia Court issued several orders of protection for members of the Sanfratello family, including a bar on third-party contact.
Asked if friends and family of the defendant had made threats against Sanfratello's family, Finnell said, "I have been advised that there were some statements made, the content of which or the degree of the statements themselves, I'm not aware of, but they were sufficient for us to ask for orders of protection, more of as a prophylactic measure to make sure that there's no contact."
Sheron said the Sheriff's Office has had an agreement with Batavia Downs to provide uniformed officers for additional security on weekends as "a deterrence." He said there had been no issues at Batavia Downs that prompted the request or made it necessary.
"We've had minimal complaints," Sheron said. "Nothing, ever, to this extreme or fights."
During the Q&A, Heubusch again urged news outlets to inform the public that investigators are seeking video and photos of the incident.
"There's a ton of video in the casino," Heubusch said. "With the cooperation of Batavia Downs, we did get all of that into our possession. However, any video that we can get from any angle is important to us in identifying potential witnesses and other actions that may have occurred outside of the cameras of the casino itself. It is extremely important to us to be able to identify anything else that's out there."
While leaving the Town of Batavia Court on Tuesday, the defendant told a group of friends and family, "My life over."
Asked if that is an admission of guilt and whether the statement could be used against him, Finnell said, "Any statement he makes spontaneously, whether it's in the course of the crime or his detention thereafter, including in court, can be used, in my opinion, should it become relevant later at trial."
In response to a follow-up, he said, "I would consider that an admission that he has done something that he regrets deeply."
In his closing statement, Ian Sanfratello thanks the community who has reached out to his family and offered support, condolences, and dropped off food.
He said he also wanted to address reports that some members of the defendants' family have been harassed or threatened on social media.
"I know my father would not want any threats of any kind being made to the family of the suspects and to the suspects themselves," Ian said. "He would know that justice will be served in the correct way."
The Sheriff's Office has parked a patrol vehicle in front to its headquarters on Park Road in Batavia in honor of Sgt. Thomas Sanfratello, who died in the line of duty early Sunday morning. The public is invited to leave flowers and memorials on and around the vehicle. Photo by Howard Owens.
Michael J. Elmore, accused of actions that lead to the death of Sgt. Thomas A. Sanfratello, who is being held in Monroe County Jail, arrives at the Town of Batavia Court on Tuesday afternoon. The group of people on the hill are Elmore's friends and family members. Photo by Howard Owens.
As he left Town of Batavia Court on Tuesday afternoon, Michael J. Elmore, accused of actions at Batavia Downs on Sunday morning that led to the death of Sgt. Thomas A. Sanfratello shook his head "no" and told a group of friends and family members, "My life over."
"I love you, bro," somebody responded.
He could then be heard in the back of the patrol car sobbing.
As is standard for an initial arraignment in court, the defendant entered a not-guilty plea. Elmore is scheduled to return to court at 1 p.m. on April 9 for further proceedings. He is being held in the Monroe County Jail on $100,000 cash bail. His case is likely to go to a grand jury and eventually be transferred to Genesee County Court.
Assistant District Attorney Joseph Robinson said District Attorney Kevin Finnell will be leading the prosecution on the case. He said the investigation is ongoing, and the people are not yet ready to hand over evidence (called discovery) to the defense.
Attorney Joseph Lobosco has been assigned to represent Elmore.
The courtroom was filled to near capacity with Sanfratello's family members and members of the local law enforcement community, including Sheriff William Sheron, Undersheriff Bradley Mazur, Deputy Chief Joseph Graff, and Deputy Chief Brian Frieday.
Elmore is charged with aggravated manslaughter in the first degree, a Class B felony, aggravated assault upon a police officer, a Class B felony, and burglary in the second degree. The manslaughter charge is based on alleged intent to cause serious physical injury. The aggravated assault includes an allegation of using a deadly weapon. The burglary charge includes the alleged use of a dangerous instrument.
The charges stem from an incident early Sunday morning, at 12:43 a.m. Sanfratello responded to a report of a disturbance in a bar at Batavia Downs.
There, Sanfratello confronted Lyndsey Jean Wilcox, 39, of Batavia and ordered Wilcox to leave the building. While being escorted out, she allegedly became combative with Sanfratello. Court documents state that she hit Sanfratello several times with the intent to injure him.
At some point during this confrontation, Elmore reportedly became involved. He was told to leave the casino and did leave, according to court documents, but "immediately" returned with "chains" in his hands. The police now describe these chains as "a thick piece of jewelry or necklace commonly worn around one's neck."
Elmore is accused of striking Sanfratello in the face and neck with the piece of jewelry and of getting Sanfratello in a chokehold. At some point, according to an initial police press release, Sanfratello deployed his taser. While struggling with the suspect, Batavia Downs security officers and civilians attempted to assist him. He became unresponsive. CPR was performed. He was later pronounced dead by a county coroner.
Wilcox is charged with burglary in the second degree, a Class C felony, and attempted assault in the second degree, a Class E felony.
She appeared in court later Tuesday afternoon, but The Batavian was unable to attend her hearing.
The cause of Sanfratello's death has not been released. There are unconfirmed reports that he suffered some sort of medical issue.
Social media photo of Michael Elmore wearing gold chains. Court documents say Elmore attacked Sanfratello with "metal chains." On Tuesday, Batavia PD clarified that the alleged objects used were "a thick piece of jewelry or necklace commonly worn around one's neck."
Michael J. Elmore being escorted through a back door of the Town of Batavia Court by a deputy and Batavia police officer. Photo by Howard Owens
The City of Batavia Police Department is seeking assistance from the public in gathering digital evidence from the incident that occurred at the Batavia Downs on March 10, resulting in the death of Sgt. Thomas Sanfratello.
Anyone with video or other digital evidence is asked to provide it to the Police Department using the link below, or by scanning the QR code.
Previously, The Batavian reported that a "metal chain" was allegedly used by Michael J. Elmore during an attack on Sgt. Thomas A. Sanfratello early Sunday morning at Batavia Downs.
Batavia PD has issued a statement clarifying that it was a" thick piece of jewelry or necklace commonly worn around one's neck."
Besides this clarification, The Batavian must make its own correction. We erroneously reported that Elmore left the casino and retrieved a chain. This was an assumption on our part, and we should never make assumptions in our reporting. Court documents do say that Elmore left the building and "immediately" returned, but nowhere does it mention that he retrieved any object in the process. We regret the error and apologize to the Sanfratello family for this error and any additional upset it may have caused.
A member of law enforcement accused us of sensationalizing the story.
We never seek to sensationalize crime stories. It's not necessary. Typically, the facts themselves speak for themselves. Except for the assumption about Elmore retrieving the chain, the rest of our prior stories were based on assertions contained in the charging documents.
The accusatory instrument states on the burglary charge that Elmore "re-entered the building holding metal chains, a dangerous instrument, that he passed between both hands while swinging them around making threats of use. The defendant used the metal chain to assault Sgt. Sanfratello by repeatedly striking him about the head and face."
On the aggravated manslaughter charge, the document states, "... the defendant did cause the death of Sgt. Thomas Sanfratello by the Genesee County Sheriff's Office by repeatedly striking him about the head and face with his fist and a metal chain and by having him in a chokehold."
The aggravated assault charge also refers to the chain as a "dangerous instrument."
NYS penal code refers to a "dangerous instrument." as an object that can cause death or serious physical injury. We should note that a necklace could, in fact, be used as a weapon and cause a serious injury.
As a matter of transparency, here are links to the accusatory instruments:
While Batavia resident Michael J. Elmore has been charged with aggravated manslaughter in the death on Sunday of Sgt. Thomas A. Sanfratello, that doesn't mean the charges can't be amended, District Attorney Kevin Finnell told The Batavian on Tuesday morning.
The Batavian asked Finnell about why Elmore was being charged with manslaughter instead of murder after obtaining court documents that revealed that Elmore was accused of retrieving a chain from outside leaving Batavia Downs, reentering the building, and attacking Sanfratello, striking his head and face, and getting Sanfratello in a chokehold.
"As you can expect, the case is still being investigated, and as such, final charging decisions have not been made," Finnell said in an email response. "It is likely a grand jury will make those decisions in the fairly near future. Until then, I am unable to provide details on the thought process that led to the current charges, but I will indicate that such charges were based on the information law enforcement had available at the time. That information is being augmented daily as more witnesses are interviewed and more evidence is received."
Both the aggravated manslaughter charge and a murder charge require the prosecution to prove to a jury beyond a reasonable doubt that the defendant had a degree of intent. Finnell explained there is a subtle difference between the proof requirements.
"As to your question about the current charge of aggravated manslaughter vs. murder, the principal difference is one of intent," Finnell said. "For a murder charge to be viable, we are required to prove that the defendant acted with 'intent to cause the death of another person.' Aggravated manslaughter in the first degree requires proof of 'intent to cause serious physical injury', which results in death. Other forms of manslaughter require proof of reckless behavior resulting in death. The final charges will reflect decisions that are based upon the whole body of evidence that is obtained after the investigation is completed."
Sanfratello, 54, was a 32-year veteran of the Sheriff's Office. He was working a special detail at Batavia Downs when he was called upon at 12:43 a.m. on Sunday to help quell a disturbance in a bar there.
Sanfratello confronted Lyndsey Jean Wilcox, 39, of Batavia and ordered Wilcox to leave the building. While being escorted out, she allegedly became combative with Sanfratello. She is accused of hitting Sanfratello several times with the intent to injure him.
Wilcox is charged with burglary in the second degree, a Class C felony and attempted assault in the second degree, a Class E felony.
Elmore is charged with aggravated manslaughter in the first degree, a Class B felony, aggravated assault upon a police officer, a Class B felony, and burglary in the second degree. The manslaughter charge is based on alleged intent to cause serious physical injury. The aggravated assault includes an allegation of using a deadly weapon. The burglary charge includes the alleged use of a dangerous instrument.
Calling hours will be from 2 to 8 p.m. on Friday at the Call Arena.
Burial will follow the funeral at St. Joseph Cemetery.
Sanfratello graduated from Alexander Central School in 1987. He went on to complete his Paramedic Certification while being an active member of the Alexander Fire Department from 1986-2003. Thomas began his career with the Genesee County Sheriff's Office as a dispatcher on February 29, 1992. Thomas was appointed as a Deputy Sheriff in 1996 and attended the Erie County Law Enforcement Academy, 88th class. He was promoted to Road Patrol Sergeant in 2007.
The precise cause of Sanfratello's death has not been released. It's been described as a medical event, but court documents obtained by The Batavian reveal that Michael J. Elmore, 33, of Batavia, is accused of attacking Sanfratello with metal chains, striking him on the head and face, hitting him with his fists, and placing him in a chokehold.
Elmore is charged with aggravated manslaughter in the first degree, a Class B felony, aggravated assault upon a police officer, a Class B felony, and burglary in the second degree. The manslaughter charge is based on alleged intent to cause serious physical injury. The aggravated assault includes an allegation of using a deadly weapon. The burglary charge includes the alleged use of a dangerous instrument.
The alleged attack on Sgt. Thomas Sanfratello at Batavia Downs early Sunday morning may have been more brutal than previously described in news releases about the incident.
In charging documents at the Town of Batavia Court, called accusatory Instruments, Michael J. Elmore is accused of leaving the casino, retrieving metal chains, reentering the building and threatening Sanfratello.
The 33-year-old Elmore allegedly "passed (the chains (now described as a necklace)) between both hands while swinging them around and making threats," and then he allegedly used the metal chains to assault Sanfratello, striking him in the head and face. He's also accused of using his fists and of placing Sanfratello in a chokehold.
Sanfratello, 54, was a 32-year veteran of the Sheriff's Office. Investigators say Sanfratello died as a result of the attack. There have been reports that he died from a medical issue, possibly a heart attack, during the confrontation. No official document available so far confirms those reports.
Elmore is charged with aggravated manslaughter in the first degree, a Class B felony, aggravated assault upon a police officer, a Class B felony, and burglary in the second degree. The manslaughter charge is based on alleged intent to cause serious physical injury. The aggravated assault includes an allegation of using a deadly weapon. The burglary charge includes the alleged use of a dangerous instrument.
The incident began at 12:43 a.m. on Sunday when Sanfratello and Batavia Downs security responded to the Rush 34 bar for a disturbance. There, Sanfratello confronted Lyndsey Jean Wilcox, 39, of Batavia and ordered Wilcox to leave the building. While being escorted out, she allegedly became combative with Sanfratello. The accusatory instrument says she hit Sanfratello several times with the intent to injure him.
The available timeline does not indicate when Elmore became involved and was told to leave the building. According to the earlier press release and the accusatory instruments, he left and returned with the intent to commit a crime.
The initial press release from Batavia PD said that Sanfratello did attempt to deploy his taser during the struggle with Elmore.
The accusatory instruments were filed by Det. Jason Ivison (Elmore) and Det. James DeFreze (Wilcox) of the Batavia Police Department.
The arrest reports indicate that Elmore and Wilcox may have been impaired by alcohol at the time of the incident.
Lyndsey Jean Wilcox
Wilcox is charged with burglary in the second degree, a Class C felony and attempted assault in the second degree, a Class E felony.
Both were arraigned on Sunday evening. Elmore is being held on $100,000 bail, $200,000 bond, and $500,000 partially secured bond. Wilcox is being held on $50,000 bail, $100,000 bond, or $200,000 partially secured bond.
Contrary to social media chatter, both were still in custody on Monday afternoon.
Sanfratello was on duty, in uniform, at the time he was attacked. He was working a special detail at Batavia Downs. Batavia Downs has been compensating the Sheriff's Office for four or five months to provide law enforcement personnel at the casino on Friday and Saturday nights.
The Batavian emailed questions to District Attorney Kevin Finnell late Monday afternoon and we will either update this story or publish a new story based on any response we receive.
Earlier on Monday, the DA's Office released the following statement:
Genesee County Sheriff's Office St. Thomas Sanfratello was working a detail at the Batavia Downs Gaming Facility on March 9, 2024 when, he was called to assist Batavia Downs Security personnel with two unruly patrons. In the course of escorting the individuals from the premises, the individuals became physically combative, requiring Sgt. Sanfratello to intervene. After successfully taking one of the individuals into custody and while physically engaged with the second person, Sgt. Sanfratello suffered a medical event which ultimately resulted in his passing. The case is still being actively investigated by the Batavia City Police Department and further charges are pending.
Our deepest sympathies go out to Sgt. Sanfratello's family at this most difficult time.
A 33-year-old Batavia man with multiple prior arrests is accused of intending to cause serious physical injury to a law enforcement officer and that his attack on the officer resulted in the death of the officer.
At 12:45 a.m. on Sunday, Sgt. Thomas A. Sanfratello, 54, a 32-year veteran of the Sheriff's Office, died after a struggle with the suspect inside Batavia Downs.
Michael J. Elmore is charged with aggravated manslaughter in the first degree, a Class B felony, aggravated assault upon a police officer, a Class B felony, and burglary in the second degree.
Elmore is accused of leaving the casino and returning after being told not to return, and that he returned with the intent to commit a crime in the casino. He then allegedly attacked Sanfrantello with the intent to cause a serious injury to him.
According to an earlier press release, Sanfratello was working a special detail early Sunday morning at Batavia Downs when he and security officers received a report of a disturbance at 34 Rush.
Lyndsey Jean Wilcox
Sanfratello and the security officers encountered Lyndsey Jean Wilcox, 39, of Batavia, and she was ordered to leave the premises. While being escorted out, Wilcox allegedly became combative with Sanfratello.
Sanfratello and the security officers were able to subdue her and place her in custody.
It was then that Elmore allegedly attacked Sanfratello. Security officers and civilians reportedly attempted to assist Sanfratello. Sanfratello attempted to use his taser to subdue Elmore, but Elmore reportedly kept fighting. During the struggle, Sanfratello became unresponsive, and CPR was attempted.
Wilcox is charged with burglary in the second degree, a Class C felony and attempted assault in the second degree, a Class E felony.
She is accused of remaining inside Batavia Downs after being told to leave and did so with the intent to commit a crime inside the casino.
Both were arraigned on Sunday evening. Elmore is being held on $100,000 bail, $200,000 bond, and $500,000 partially secured bond. Wilcox is being held on $50,000 bail, $100,000 bond, or $200,000 partially secured bond.
Both are scheduled to appear again in Town of Batavia Court on March 12.
The Batavia Police Department is handling the investigation.
"We would like to thank all those who came forward with information to assist the investigation and those who assisted at the scene," said Chief Shawn Heubusch. "We ask that you keep the family and friends of Sgt. Sanfratello in your thoughts and prayers during this very difficult time."
Sanfratello began his law enforcement career as a dispatcher on Feb. 29, 1992. He was appointed deputy in 1996 and promoted to sergeant in 2007.
In an interview with The Batavian, Henry Wojtaszek, CEO of Western Regional OTB, said that Batavia Downs began contracting with the Sheriff's Office four or five months ago to provide a security detail to the casino on Friday and Saturday nights. He said the arrangement is similar to what Batavia Downs does with Batavia PD and the Sheriff's Office during the summer concert series and that the agencies are compensated for the officers' time.
In a written statement released to all media, Wojtaszek said, "The Batavia Downs Family is extremely saddened by the loss of Sergeant Sanfratello and we send our very deepest condolences to his family. We rarely have incidents at our facility in large part due to the incredible efforts of people like Sergeant Sanfratello. While words cannot express our sorrow, our thoughts and prayers are with the SanFratello family and his extended first responder family."
During an altercation with a criminal suspect at Batavia Downs shortly before 1 a.m. on Sunday, a Sheriff's Office sergeant became unresponsive and, despite life-saving attempts by Batavia Downs security staff, was later pronounced dead by the Genesee County Coroner.
Thomas A. Sanfratello, 54, was a 32-year veteran of the Sheriff's Office. He was working a special assignment detail at the Batavia Downs while on duty.
The investigation has been transferred to the Batavia Police Department, which issued a statement about the case Sunday afternoon.
“Our thoughts and prayers go out to the family members of Sergeant Sanfratello and all the members of the Genesee County Sheriff’s Office at this extremely difficult time,” said Batavia Police Department Chief Shawn Heubusch.
The Sheriff's Office also released a statement expressing its deep regret and sorrow at Sanfratello's passing.
Michael J. Elmore 2013 File Photo/Booking Photo
The statement also stated, "Sergeant Sanfratello’s family would like to extend their sincere appreciation for all the overwhelming support they have received from friends and fellow first responders."
According to Heubusch, Sheriff's Sergeant Sanfratello and casino security were notified about an altercation inside the facility.
Heubusch said that Sanfratello and security were notified about 12:45 a.m. of a possible fight inside the casino. After an initial verbal confrontation inside Rush 34, Sanfratello and security staff began escorting two patrons from the facility.
The patrons are identified as Michael J. Elmore, 33, and Lyndsey Jean Wilcox, 39.
As they were escorted, Wilcox is accused of becoming physically combative with Sanfratello. With the assistance of security officers, Wilcox was restrained and placed under arrest.
At that point, Elmore allegedly interfered with her arrest and attacked Sanfratello.
Security officers and civilians attempted to assist Sanfratello. A fight ensued. Sanfratello attempted to use his taser to subdue Elmore but Elmore reportedly kept fighting.
During the fight, Sanfratello became unresponsive. People on scene began CPR.
The life-saving attempts were unsuccessful.
Heubusch said no further details are being released at this time.
Charges are expected against Elmore, according to Heuubusch. He did not elaborate.
Sanfratello began his law enforcement career as a dispatcher on Feb. 29, 1992. He was appointed deputy in 1996 and promoted to sergeant in 2007.
Gilmart Funeral Home and Cremation Company in Batavia is handling funeral arrangements. More information about funeral plans will be released later.
He served two years in state prison on the attempted burglary charge. His parole ended in 2021.
UPDATE: Henry Wojtaszek, CEO of Western Regional OTB, released the following statement:
The Batavia Downs Family is extremely saddened by the loss of Sergeant Sanfratello and we send our very deepest condolences to his family. We rarely have incidents at our facility in large part due to the incredible efforts of people like Sergeant SanFratello.
While words cannot express our sorrow, our thoughts and prayers are with the SanFratello family and his extended first responder family.
The safety of our guests and our dedicated staff is our highest priority, and we will continue to work with our partners in law enforcement throughout their investigation.
We are committed to assisting the SanFratello family and the entire community through this difficult time.
In an interview with The Batavian, Wojtaszek said that Batavia Downs began contracting with the Sheriff's Office four or five months ago to provide a security detail to the casino on Friday and Saturday nights. He said the arrangement is similar to what Batavia Downs does with Batavia PD and the Sheriff's Office during the summer concert series and that the agencies are compensated for the officers' time. He reiterated during the interview, "We are committed to the safety and security of our patrons."
UPDATE 6:05 p.m.: Heubusch said Elmore is in custody pending charges.
According to Heubusch, this is an ongoing investigation. Witnesses and people with video of the incident are asked to come forward. The Detective Bureau can be reached at 585-345-6311 or submit a tip at www.bataviapolice.org.
