Roll of Honor

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Detective

James M. Shepard

Buffalo Police Department — Buffalo, NY

Veteran → Accident

End of Watch February 2, 1887

Age 47

Tour of Duty 21 yrs

The Vigil Panel 9 ›

Gender Male

Incident Service The Sacrifice Military Department 50

Incident

Detective James Shepard was killed when a house he was in collapsed.

Detective Shepard went to the west side of the city to conduct an investigation. While at the location the weather suddenly turned violent. Heavy winds swept the area. Detective Shepard took shelter in a house that was under construction. The force of the winds caused the house to collapse, killing Detective Shepard.

Detective Shepard had served with the Buffalo Police Department for 21 years, and had once held the position of Superintendent. He was a Civil War veteran with the United States Army who was wounded during the battle of Malvern Hill and taken prisoner by the Confederate Army.

Det. Shepard, On today, the 137th anniversary of your death I would just like to say thank you for your service and sacrifice-not just your Community but for our Country as well when you served with the Union Army and was wounded in action during the Civil War.

BPA Mike Casey United States Border Patrol(Retired) February 2nd, 2024

In Our Keeping

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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.
Detective Shepard gave the Buffalo Police Department 21 years.
Thank you for your service to the Buffalo 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

Department Buffalo Police Department

Type Police Department

Location Buffalo, Erie County, NY

Platform Identity bpd.erie.ny.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch February 2, 1887

Tour of Duty 21 yrs

Age 47

Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Accident

Military Service

James M. Shepard served in the the United States military before joining law enforcement.

View full service record on salute.nw →

Detective James M. Shepard is one of 1 officers lost to accidents in the line of duty across the full record of this memorial — 0% of all 97,759 officers honored here.

In NY, 645 of 2,147 officers were lost to accidents in the line of duty — 30% of this state's fallen. That is 30 percentage points above the national rate of 0%.

At Buffalo Police Department, 26 of 51 officers on record were lost to accidents in the line of duty — 51% of this agency's fallen.

Buffalo Police Department

of 51 officers

51% Accident

NY — Statewide

645

of 2,147 officers

30% Accident

Nationwide

of 97,759 officers

0% Accident