Sterling C. Forden
Agency patch
Patrolman

Sterling C. Forden

Buffalo Police Department — Buffalo, NY
Felonious
End of Watch June 23, 1934
Age 25
Tour of Duty 1 yrs
Badge 732
The Vigil Panel 68 ›
Gender Male

Incident

Patrolman Forden was stabbed to death by a woman on Luthern Avenue near William Street during a vice raid. Other officers arrested the suspect.

The suspect was convicted of Patrolman Forden's murder and sentenced to 20 years to life in Westfield state prison for women, Bedford Hills, on July 6, 1934.

He had served with the agency for only 1 year and was assigned to the Headquarters Division.

In Our Keeping

Permanent identifier
BO-US-NY-9B829B82
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

You barely got started.
Patrolman Forden gave the Buffalo Police Department 1 year.
Thank you for your service to the Buffalo community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Patrolman Forden.

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

Agency

Type Police Department
Location Buffalo, Erie County, NY
Platform Identity bpd.erie.ny.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch June 23, 1934
Tour of Duty 1 yrs
Age 25
Badge Number 732
Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious
Weapon Edged weapon

Patrolman Sterling C. Forden 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 Buffalo Police Department, 22 of 51 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 43.1% of this agency's fallen.

Buffalo Police Department
22
of 51 officers
43.1% 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. Sterling C. Forden's cause is highlighted.

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

How Sterling C. Forden Compares

Age at Death
25
This officer
Avg for Felonious: 39.0 years
Years of Service
1
This officer
Avg for Felonious: 8.4 years

When Felonious Deaths Occur

Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. Sterling C. Forden 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. Sterling C. Forden was killed by edged weapon.

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