Stanisław Kociołek (3 May 1933, Warsaw – 1 October 2015), often referred to as the "butcher of Tri-City", was a Communist official who served as deputy prime minister of Poland for six months in 1970.

After the fall of Communism, he was charged with crimes committed in Gdańsk and Gdynia during the Polish 1970 protests.

Kociołek personally approved the Polish United Workers' Party (PZPR) order issued with Zenon Kliszko, for the regular Army to fire at striking workers in Polish shipyards, which resulted in at least tens of people being killed indiscriminately and hundreds wounded.

[1][2][3] Initially, Kociołek worked as head-master at an elementary school near Iława following World War II, and in 1957 graduated from Warsaw University.

He joined the communist party at his alma mater, and served as leader of its own PZPR party-cell.