Roll of Honor
Incident
Lieutenant Kristina Zell died from complications as a result of contracting COVID-19 in the line of duty.
Lieutenant Zell had served with the Niagara Falls Police Department for over 22 years and was assigned to the Criminal Investigation Division. She had previously served with the U.S. Marshals Violent Fugitive Task Force.
COVID-19 and Law Enforcement
Lieutenant Kristina Zell died on November 7, 2022 of COVID-19 contracted in the line of duty. He was 47.
He is one of 884 officers honored here.
Beginning in early 2020, law enforcement officers across the country contracted COVID-19 in the course of their duties. While much of the nation sheltered at home, they kept answering calls, making arrests, transporting prisoners, and working face to face with the public. There was no distance to be had from the job.
Corrections officers were hit hardest. Confined facilities and large populations meant constant, close, unavoidable exposure.
Survivors
She is survived by her parents and two brothers.
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
BO-US-NY-6B5B9253- 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
The country locked its doors. You kept working.
Lieutenant Zell gave the Niagara Falls Police Department 22 years.
Thank you for your service to the Niagara Falls community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Lieutenant Zell.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
Lieutenant Kristina Zell is one of 2,974 officers lost to illness connected to their service across the full record of this memorial — 9.1% of all 32,508 officers honored here.
In NY, 629 of 2,147 officers were lost to illness connected to their service — 29.3% of this state's fallen. That is 20.2 percentage points above the national rate of 9.1%.
At Niagara Falls Police Department, 1 of 7 officers on record were lost to illness connected to their service — 14.3% of this agency's fallen.
National Cause Distribution
How Illness compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. Kristina Zell's cause is highlighted.
How Kristina Zell Compares
When Illness Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Illness deaths across the full memorial record. Kristina Zell is highlighted in Nov.
Incident Location
Others Who Wore This Badge
6 officers from Niagara Falls Police Department are honored on badge.nw.
