John Downs

Niagara Falls Police Department — Niagara Falls, NY

Felonious

End of Watch August 3, 1923

Age 59

Tour of Duty 16 yrs

The Vigil Panel 45 ›

Gender Male

Incident Service The Sacrifice Department 6

Incident

Detective Sergeant Downs was shot and killed while attempting to arrest a confidence man at Quay Street and Jefferson Avenue (now John B. Daly Blvd and Rainbow Blvd.) The shooting occurred after a lengthy foot chase that began on the State Reservation. The suspect shot Detective Sergeant Downs with his own weapon after a struggle. The suspect was apprehended and convicted. Detective Sergeant Downs had served with the Niagara Falls Police Department for 16 years.

Survivors

He was survived by his wife.

In Our Keeping

Permanent identifier: BO-US-NY-935C73CC
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.

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Tributes

I never knew you. I am standing here anyway.
Detective Sergeant Downs gave the Niagara Falls Police Department 16 years.
Thank you for your service to the Niagara Falls community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Detective Sergeant Downs.

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

Agency

Department Niagara Falls Police Department

Location Niagara Falls, NY

Platform Identity nfpd.niagara.ny.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch August 3, 1923

Tour of Duty 16 yrs

Age 59

Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious

Weapon Officer's handgun

Offender Convicted

Detective Sergeant John Downs is one of 17,623 officers killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty across the full record of this memorial — 54.2% of all 32,508 officers honored here.

In NY, 754 of 2,147 officers were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 35.1% of this state's fallen. That is 19.1 percentage points below the national rate of 54.2%.

At Niagara Falls Police Department, 3 of 7 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 42.9% of this agency's fallen.

Niagara Falls Police Department

of 7 officers

42.9% Felonious

NY — Statewide

754

of 2,147 officers

35.1% Felonious

Nationwide

17,623

of 32,508 officers

54.2% Felonious