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
April 2, 2026
Last updated
July 23, 2026

Honored here by 1 sentinel - 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

Location Buffalo, 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
Offender Sentenced to 20 years to life

Patrolman Sterling C. Forden is one of 17,623 officers killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty across the full record of this memorial — 54.2% of all 32,508 officers honored here.

In NY, 754 of 2,147 officers were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 35.1% of this state's fallen. That is 19.1 percentage points below the national rate of 54.2%.

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
754
of 2,147 officers
35.1% Felonious
Nationwide
17,623
of 32,508 officers
54.2% 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
17,623 (54.2%)
Accident
10,088 (31%)
Illness
2,974 (9.1%)
Cardiac
1,306 (4%)
Undetermined
260 (0.8%)
Suicide
256 (0.8%)
vehicular
1 (0%)

How Sterling C. Forden Compares

Age at End of Watch
25
This officer
Avg for Felonious: 39.0 years
Years of Service
1
This officer
Avg for Felonious: 8.5 years

Offender Outcome

Sentenced to 20 years to life

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
1,517
May
1,505
Jun
1,443
Jul
1,587
Aug
1,516
Sep
1,553
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.

Gun; Unknown type
5,083
Handgun
2,077
Shotgun
922
Officer's handgun
909
Automobile; Alcohol involved
530
Rifle
518