Roll of Honor
Incident
Patrolman William Clossey was killed when a delivery wagon he was riding in crashed into a telegraph pole.
During the drivers strike of 1913, patrolmen were assigned to ride in delivery wagons to protect the drivers. Patrolman Clossey was assigned to such a duty when the delivery wagon in which he was riding collided with a telegraph pole at Main and Rile Streets. Patrolman Clossey was thrown twenty feet to the ground.
After spending a week recovering at Sisters Hospital with a fractured knee, Patrolman Clossey was sent home. Later that week, Patrolman Clossey died. The Buffalo Medical Examiner ruled that his death was directly linked to the accident.
Patrolman Clossey had served with the Buffalo Police Department for 15 years, and was survived by his wife.
Survivors
Patrolman Clossey had served with the Buffalo Police Department for 15 years, and was survived by his wife.
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
BO-US-NY-701FD33A- 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.
Patrolman Clossey gave the Buffalo Police Department 15 years.
Thank you for your service to the Buffalo community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Patrolman Clossey.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
Patrolman William J. Clossey is one of 10,088 officers lost to accidents in the line of duty across the full record of this memorial — 31% of all 32,508 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 1 percentage points below the national rate of 31%.
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.
National Cause Distribution
How Accident compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. William J. Clossey's cause is highlighted.
How William J. Clossey Compares
When Accident Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Accident deaths across the full memorial record. William J. Clossey is highlighted in Jun.
Others Who Wore This Badge
50 officers from Buffalo Police Department are honored on badge.nw. Showing the 16 most recent.
