Charles L. Godfrey
Agency patch
Patrolman

Charles L. Godfrey

Veteran → Accident
End of Watch May 12, 1925
Age 24
Tour of Duty 1 yrs 4 mo
Badge 11688
Gender Male

Incident

Patrolman Charles Godfrey was inadvertently shot and killed after being mistaken for a suspect as he attempted to make an arrest while off duty. Patrolman Godfrey observed a reserve officer and his wife being attacked. He took immediate action to apprehend suspects and, while in pursuit of them, was killed by friendly fire. Patrolman Godfrey was a United States Army WWI veteran who had served with the New York City Police Department for one year, assigned to the 16th Precinct, the present-day 32nd Precinct. He was survived by his wife and three children. He is buried in Cypress Hill Cemetery in the Police Arlington Gardens, Brooklyn, New York.

Survivors

He was survived by his wife and three children.

In Our Keeping

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Stewardship
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Added to badge.nw
August 2, 2026
Last updated
August 2, 2026

Honored here by 1 tribute.

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Tributes

I served 1985 to 1993. You served too, before the badge - different uniform, same idea. You go where you are sent and you do not get to pick the call.
Patrolman Godfrey gave the New York City Police Department 1 year.
Thank you for your service to the New York community, and for your service before it. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, brother.

— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993

Agency

Type Police Department
Location New York, NY
Platform Identity nypd.newyork.ny.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch May 12, 1925
Tour of Duty 1 yrs 4 mo
Age 24
Badge Number 11688
Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Accident
Weapon Officer's weapon

Military Service

Charles L. Godfrey served in the the United States military before joining law enforcement.

View full service record on salute.nw →

The Sacrifice · Accident

Charles is one of 8,276 officers lost to accidents in the United States, 30% of the 27,552 remembered there.

34,103 officers are remembered on this memorial. Each number below is one of them.

  1. See the roll
  2. See the roll
Compare against
I

Time

In 1925, 88 officers in the United States were lost to accidents, the 16th heaviest of 174 years on record. The heaviest was 1929, with 118.

Every year on record · United States
II

Who

Charles was 24. Of the 7,718 lost to accidents in the United States whose age is recorded, half were between 29 and 46; the middle age was 36. Charles had served 1.4 years; the middle length of service was 6 years.

Age at death
Where he stood among them
Age by years of service
III

When

May holds 8.6% of these deaths in the United States; August holds the most, 9.4%. Tuesdays: 14.1%.

By month
By day of the week
IV

How

Accident deaths account for 30% of all 27,552 deaths in the United States, the 2nd most common cause. The weapon recorded was officer's weapon, in 0% of these deaths.

Every cause
Weapons recorded
V

His people

New York City Police Department has at least 120 officers remembered here, Charles among them.

Across the years
VI

Where

Patrolman Charles L. Godfrey

New York City Police Department · End of Watch May 12, 1925

Military Service

Charles L. Godfrey served in the United States military before joining law enforcement.

Visit Charles L. Godfrey’s page on salute.nw →

His full service record — units, decorations, where he served — is kept on salute.nw.

Where the Name Is Cut

National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial · Panel 6-E

Also Remembered

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