Roll of Honor
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
- April 2, 2026
- Last updated
- July 23, 2026
Honored here by 1 sentinel - 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
Service Record
Incident Details
Military Service
Scott Chism served in the Coast Guard (1997â2001) before joining law enforcement.
Petty Officer Scott Chism 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 DC, 454 of 1,419 officers were lost to accidents in the line of duty — 32% of this state's fallen. That is 1 percentage points above the national rate of 31%.
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.
National Cause Distribution
How Accident compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. Scott Chism's cause is highlighted.
How Scott Chism Compares
When Accident Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Accident deaths across the full memorial record. Scott Chism is highlighted in Mar.
Incident Location
Others Who Wore This Badge
23 officers from United States Coast Guard are honored on badge.nw. Showing the 16 most recent.
