The Cleveland Police Museum is honored to tell the stories of our Fallen Officers on the anniversaries of their End of Watch.
On September 1, 1955, Martin Mrugacz was appointed to the Cleveland Police Department where he served for five years, two of them as a detective. He was a member of the Fraternal Order of Police Lodge #8, American Legion Police Post #438, the Knights of Columbus, as well as many other clubs.
On September 29, 1960 Detectives Mrugacz and Edward Kadunc were returning to Central Station from a 10:30 pm assignment when they were involved in a car accident. Mrugacz died instantly after being crushed between the seat and dashboard of the car.
The accident remains a mystery. There were no known witnesses. Kadunc, under heavy sedation with head cuts, neck injury, and a broken finger, said that while sorting papers in his lap, he remembered bright lights to his right as they headed down on Mayflower. A passerby, who had not seen the accident, said he spotted two sets of headlights and heard two squeals of brakes just before the crash.
Martin Mrugacz was survived by his wife Sylvia, two children, Tony and Monica, parents, Martin and Victoria; brother, Ronald; and a beloved nephew. Services were held at Sacred Heart of Jesus Church and he was laid to rest in Calvary Cemetery.
