Roll of Honor
Charles A. Ralston
Incident
Detective Charles Ralston was struck and killed by a string of seven freight cars being shunted in the Nickel Plate railroad yards at the foot of Tifft Street in Buffalo, New York.
He was patrolling the railroad yards when he was struck by the cars. Other railroad employees found his body after the string of cars had passed by.
Detective Ralston was survived by his wife and son.
Survivors
Detective Ralston was survived by his wife and son.
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
BO-US-RR-750D565F- Stewardship
- Maintained by NeuraWeb Global Inc.
- Added to badge.nw
- April 2, 2026
- Last updated
- July 23, 2026
Honored here by 1 sentinel - 1 tribute.
Are you family? This record can be claimed and maintained by those who knew Charles. Claim this record.
This page is permanent and free. No fee to view it, no advertising, no tracking, and no account required. It will not be taken down.
Tributes
I never knew you. I am standing here anyway.
Detective Ralston served with the New York, Chicago and St. Louis Railroad Police Department.
Thank you for your service to the Cleveland community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Detective Ralston.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
Detective Charles A. Ralston is one of 10,088 officers lost to accidents in the line of duty across the full record of this memorial — 31% of all 32,508 officers honored here.
In OH, 318 of 991 officers were lost to accidents in the line of duty — 32.1% of this state's fallen. That is 1.1 percentage points above the national rate of 31%.
At New York, Chicago and St. Louis Railroad Police Department, 6 of 10 officers on record were lost to accidents in the line of duty — 60% of this agency's fallen.
National Cause Distribution
How Accident compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. Charles A. Ralston's cause is highlighted.
How Charles A. Ralston Compares
When Accident Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Accident deaths across the full memorial record. Charles A. Ralston is highlighted in Feb.
Incident Location
Others Who Wore This Badge
9 officers from New York, Chicago and St. Louis Railroad Police Department are honored on badge.nw.
