Scott Chism

United States Coast Guard — Washington, DC

Veteran → Veteran → Accident

End of Watch March 24, 2001

Age 25

The Vigil Panel 148 ›

Gender Male

Incident Service The Sacrifice Military Department 23

Incident

Location: New York Incident Date: Friday, March 23, 2001

Guardsman Scott Chism and Guardsman Christopher Ferreby succumbed to hypothermia after being thrown into the water while on law enforcement patrol in Lake Ontario, near the mouth of the Niagara River, in New York state.

During their patrol, a wave swamped their 22-foot inflatable boat and washed all four occupants overboard. After they failed to check-in, a search was started and the four were located at approximately 0030 hours. All four were wearing dry suits and life jackets. They were transported to a local hospital where Guardsman Ferreby and Guardsman Chism succumbed to the exposure they received while in the water. The other guardsman were treated for hypothermia.

Coast Guardsman Chism was an active member of the United States Coast Guard at the time of his death and had previously served with the United States Army.

Survivors

He is survived by his wife and two children.

In Our Keeping

Permanent identifier: BO-US-FED-559A8CED
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 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.
Petty Officer Chism served with the United States Coast Guard.
Thank you for your service. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, brother.

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

Agency

Department United States Coast Guard

Type Federal Agency

Location Washington, DC

Platform Identity uscg.fed.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch March 24, 2001

Age 25

Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Accident

Military Service

Scott Chism served in the U.S. Coast Guard (1997â2001) before joining law enforcement.

View full service record on salute.nw →

Petty Officer Scott Chism is one of 1 officers lost to accidents in the line of duty across the full record of this memorial — 0% of all 97,772 officers honored here.

In DC, 453 of 1,418 officers were lost to accidents in the line of duty — 31.9% of this state's fallen. That is 31.9 percentage points above the national rate of 0%.

At United States Coast Guard, 20 of 24 officers on record were lost to accidents in the line of duty — 83.3% of this agency's fallen.

United States Coast Guard

of 24 officers

83.3% Accident

DC — Statewide

453

of 1,418 officers

31.9% Accident

Nationwide

of 97,772 officers

0% Accident