Rochester police officer killed in line of duty identified. What we know now

A Rochester police officer was fatally shot Thursday evening and another officer was wounded in what RPD Chief David Smith called "a cowardly ambush."

The slain officer, 54-year-old Anthony P. Mazurkiewicz, was on patrol in a northeast Rochester neighborhood when he was fatally shot on Bauman Street shortly just after 9:15 p.m. Thursday. A second officer, 37-year-old Sino Seng, was shot and wounded in the attack.

A female bystander was also injured by gunfire in the incident.

At a news conference Friday morning, Chief Smith said Mazurkiewicz was a member of the department's tactical unit and a 29-year veteran of the police force. Both officers were in plainclothes Thursday.

"Last night, Officer Mazurkiewicz and his partner, Officer Sino Seng, were attacked in a cowardly ambush and fell victim to the very violence in our community that we are trying to combat," Chief Smith said at a press briefing Friday morning at Rochester's Public Safety Building. "During this incident, the full force of the region's law enforcement responded to the scene. This same full force is being utilized to bring whoever is responsible for this heinous act to justice."

Smith said that Mazurkiewicz was shot at least once in the upper body. He was transported by a private car to Strong Memorial Hospital, where he died from his injuries.

Seng, who has served 8 years with RPD, was shot at least once in the lower body. He was treated for his injuries at Rochester General Hospital and has been released.

The female civilian, who the police did not identify, suffered what were described as non-life threatening injuries. She was treated at the scene, according to police.

Chief Smith did not share any details about the incident and did not take any questions from members of the media. He did reflect on the challenges and risks that officers face every day.

"Yesterday morning, at 11 a.m., I was asked by the media 'how dangerous is it out there for the officers of theRochester Police Department,'" Smith said. "My response was that every day, the men and women of this department leave home, not knowing if they are going to return home at the end of their shift."

Arrest announced Friday afternoon

Rochester Police announced they had arrested a suspect in the killing of officer Mazurkiewicz. That suspect, 21-year-old Kelvin Vickers will be arraigned in city court Saturday morning on charges of second degree murder, second degree attempted murder, second degree assault, and two counts of criminal possession of a weapon.

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Mayor asks for community's help

The killing of a Rochester Police officer came on the same day that Rochester Mayor Malik Evans declared a "gun violence emergency" in the city because of the continuing wave of fatal shootings and the seemingly endless prevalence of firearms.

Mazurkiewicz is the city's 42nd homicide victim this year and the tenth since the start of summer four weeks ago. There have been 206 people shot in the city so far in 2022.

At the press briefing Friday morning, Evans said the attack against the two officers highlights the levels of gun violence the City is experiencing this summer.

"Not only am I sad for the Mazurkiewicz family — and we pray for the speedy recovery of Sino Seng — I am angry. And upset. Because all too often, we are seeing a blatant disregard for life," Evans said. "Whether it be a woman sitting on her porch, or a 10-year-old girl braiding her mother’s hair—and now, an officer in the line of duty working to keep our city safe."

Evans said this incident was a "clarion call" for the community to speak up.

"We need your assistance. This is an ongoing investigation, and anyone that saw anything, you need to speak up," Evans said.

Evans praised Mazurkiewicz for his dedication to making his community a better place.

"Tony Mazurkiewicz could have easily retired, but he chose to continue going on the streets because he didn’t want folks in our neighborhoods to be held hostage by the very cowards that are wreaking havoc in our community," Evans said.

Evans also asked the media and the community for their patience as the investigation unfolds.

"I know everyone has lots of questions but this is a very large-scale investigation," Evans said. "I'm going to ask that you give the family space. I'm going to ask that you give the men and women of this department the space that they need as they grieve this horrific tragedy."

'I have constituents who are terrified'

The shooting of two officers comes as Rochester's deeply divided City Council wrestles over the future of policing in this community. A slate of reform candidates was elected to office after the 2020 death of Daniel Prude in police custody and the often violent clashes between police and protestors that followed.

Council member Michael Patterson decried the effects of those reform efforts.

"Thank God that we have a sensible majority of council members that will vote to combat gun violence," Patterson said. "On Tuesday we actually had council members vote against accepting money to combat gun violence, and during that conversation we had three people shot and two of them died. And as we roll forward more people are getting shot and more people are dying."

Patterson called on state legislators and the Governor to enact laws that would allow judges more discretion to keep individuals arrested on gun charges in custody.

"I don't want to hear thoughts and prayers, I want to see legislation," Patterson said.

He said this incident should serve as a call to action.

"I have constituents who are terrified," Patterson said. "The question to Rochester is 'what kind of city do you want to live in?'. There are some people who honestly believe we have too many police and advocate for a significant reduction in our police force. Well, we are short 100 officers now, how's that working? I don't think it's working at all."

This article originally appeared on Rochester Democrat and Chronicle: Rochester police officer Anthony Mazurkiewicz killed in line of duty