Charles E. McDougald
Agency patch
Police Officer

Charles E. McDougald

Buffalo Police Department — Buffalo, NY
Felonious
End of Watch April 9, 1997
Age 36
Tour of Duty 8 yrs
Badge 2778
The Vigil Panel 143 ›
Gender Male

Incident

Officer Charles McDougald and another officer were shot at approximately 12:45 a.m. after attempting to question a suspicious person who may have been stripping a car. The officers found the subject emerging from a yard on Northhampton Street in Buffalo. As the officers approached, the suspect turned and fired at them. Officer McDougald was struck in the chest and died a short time later at the hospital. He was not wearing a vest at the time of the shooting. His partner was also hit but survived his wound. The 18-year-old suspect, who had a previous history of violent crimes and was out on bail, was found guilty of murder of a police officer and attempted murder of a police officer and sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole. Officer McDougald had served with the Buffalo Police Department for 8 years and was assigned to Precinct 12.

Survivors

He is survived by his wife and four children.

In Our Keeping

Permanent identifier
BO-US-NY-71A06FEE
Stewardship
Maintained by NeuraWeb Global Inc.
Added to badge.nw
August 2, 2026
Last updated
August 2, 2026

Honored here by 1 tribute.

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Tributes

I never knew you. I am standing here anyway.
Police Officer McDougald gave the Buffalo Police Department 8 years.
Thank you for your service to the Buffalo community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Police Officer McDougald.

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

Agency

Type Police Department
Location Buffalo, Erie County, NY
Platform Identity bpd.erie.ny.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch April 9, 1997
Tour of Duty 8 yrs
Age 36
Badge Number 2778
Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious
Weapon Handgun

Police Officer Charles E. McDougald is one of 1 officers killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty across the full record of this memorial — 0% of all 97,772 officers honored here.

In NY, 728 of 2,147 officers were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 33.9% of this state's fallen. That is 33.9 percentage points above the national rate of 0%.

At Buffalo Police Department, 22 of 51 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 43.1% of this agency's fallen.

Buffalo Police Department
22
of 51 officers
43.1% Felonious
NY — Statewide
728
of 2,147 officers
33.9% Felonious
Nationwide
1
of 97,772 officers
0% Felonious

National Cause Distribution

How Felonious compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. Charles E. McDougald's cause is highlighted.

Felonious
1 (0%)
Accident
1 (0%)
Illness
1 (0%)
Cardiac
1 (0%)
Undetermined
1 (0%)
Suicide
1 (0%)

How Charles E. McDougald Compares

Age at Death
36
This officer
Avg for Felonious: 39.0 years
Years of Service
8
This officer
Avg for Felonious: 8.4 years

When Felonious Deaths Occur

Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. Charles E. McDougald is highlighted in Apr.

Jan
1,392
Feb
1,295
Mar
1,373
Apr
1,516
May
1,504
Jun
1,442
Jul
1,587
Aug
1,517
Sep
1,491
Oct
1,371
Nov
1,447
Dec
1,624

Weapons Used Against Officers

Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. Charles E. McDougald was killed by handgun.

Handgun
3,684
Gun
3,592
Gun; Unknown type
1,492
Shotgun
1,109
Rifle
935
Officer's handgun
909

Incident Location