TOWN OF TONAWANDA, N.Y. — The Town of Tonawanda police headquarters has been renamed the Frank H. Pfonner Public Safety Building.

Pfonner, born in June 1893, was a police officer killed in the line of duty nearly a century ago.

Town leaders say he is the only police officer in the history of the Town of Tonawanda Police Department who was killed in the line of duty.

In 1923, Pfonner was hit while riding a motorcycle. The driver took off. Pfonner later died from his injuries.

"It took 98+ years to get here, but from this day forward, people are going to know who Frank Pfonner was and what he did and what he gave up,” said Town of Tonawanda Supervisor Joseph Emminger.

"Every police officer that works here and enters this building from now on will recognize the Frank Pfonner name and always remember the sacrifice he made for our community,” said Chief James Stauffiger, Town of Tonawanda Police Department.

Patrolman Pfonner was one of the first three officers hired by the town when the police department was formed in 1920.