Fred A. Bigalow
Agency patch
Sheriff

Fred A. Bigalow

Felonious
End of Watch June 19, 1944
Age 53
Tour of Duty 9 yrs
Badge 0001
The Vigil Panel 80 ›
Gender Male

Incident

Sheriff Fred Bigalow succumbed to a gunshot wound sustained the previous day while attempting to arrest a suspect on Upper Mountain Road in Pekin. The suspect had been located in a hayloft of a barn, and the sheriff was shot when he climbed onto the loft. Sheriff Bigalow was transported to Lockport City Hospital where he succumbed to his wounds the following day. The suspect committed suicide a short time later. Sheriff Bigalow had been sheriff for 9 years. He was survived by his wife, mother, and brother. His late father had also served as Niagara County Sheriff.

Survivors

He was survived by his wife, mother, and brother.

In Our Keeping

Permanent identifier
BO-US-NY-B96D59FD
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.
Sheriff Bigalow gave the Niagara County Sheriff's Office 9 years.
Thank you for your service to the Lockport community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Sheriff Bigalow.

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

Agency

Type Sheriff's Office
Location Lockport, Niagara County, NY
Platform Identity ncso.niagara.ny.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch June 19, 1944
Tour of Duty 9 yrs
Age 53
Badge Number 0001
Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious
Weapon Shotgun

Sheriff Fred A. Bigalow 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 Niagara County Sheriff's Office, 3 of 5 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 60% of this agency's fallen.

Niagara County Sheriff's Office
3
of 5 officers
60% 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. Fred A. Bigalow's cause is highlighted.

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

How Fred A. Bigalow Compares

Age at Death
53
This officer
Avg for Felonious: 39.0 years
Years of Service
9
This officer
Avg for Felonious: 8.4 years

When Felonious Deaths Occur

Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. Fred A. Bigalow is highlighted in Jun.

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. Fred A. Bigalow was killed by shotgun.

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

Incident Location