Police Officer Michael J. Buczek Memorial Scholarship
Michael John Buczek attended Ramapo College and then went on to become a New York City Police Officer in Washington Heights in Manhattan.
After answering a routine call on October 18, 1988, Officer Buczek and his partner stopped four men who were fleeing from a drug robbery. During the ensuing scuffle, one of the men shot and killed Officer Buczek. He was 24 years old. In 2003 the men who shot Michael Buczek and his partner were tried and convicted.
Soon after Officer Buczek’s death his father, Ted Buczek, began a determined effort to bring his son’s killers to justice and honor his son’s memory. In the process, Ted Buczek recruited government officials at all levels, police officials, and religious leaders. Thanks to Mr. Buczek?s tireless efforts, a baseball field, park and school in Washington Heights are named for his son, as well as scholarship funds at DePaul Catholic High School and Ramapo College. Mr. Buczek passed away in December 2010 at the age of 84.
The Police Officer Michael J. Buczek Memorial Scholarship recognizes students with a strong interest in law enforcement, who are planning a career in law enforcement or are Law and Society majors. Recipients must be residents of New York or New Jersey.