Roll of Honor
Incident
Patrolman William Hunt succumbed to a fractured skull when he was beaten by a subject he had arrested for suspicion of burglary. Patrolman Hunt had arrested two subjects and stopped to use the patrol box at North Division Street and Chestnut Street. While making his call, the subject pointed his gun at Patrolman Hunt's head and fired three times, but the gun failed to discharge. The subject used the gun's handle to beat Patrolman Hunt unconscious before Patrolman Hunt could reach for his own gun. Patrolman Hunt was transported to the Emergency Hospital, where he was able to give a description of his attacker. He succumbed to his injuries two days later. The suspect was captured later in the day and found guilty of murder. He was sentenced to death and executed in the electric chair on January 22, 1925. Patrolman Hunt had sevred with the Buffalo Police Department for at least two years, assigned to the pawnshop squad.
Survivors
He was survived by two sons and a daughter.
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
BO-US-NY-87106009- 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 never knew you. I am standing here anyway.
Patrolman Hunt gave the Buffalo Police Department 2 years.
Thank you for your service to the Buffalo community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Patrolman Hunt.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
Patrolman William T. Hunt 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.
National Cause Distribution
How Felonious compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. William T. Hunt's cause is highlighted.
How William T. Hunt Compares
When Felonious Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. William T. Hunt is highlighted in Jan.
Weapons Used Against Officers
Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. William T. Hunt was killed by handgun.
Others Who Wore This Badge
50 officers from Buffalo Police Department are honored on badge.nw. Showing the 16 most recent.
