Roll of Honor
Incident
Patrolman Ogden was electrocuted when he attempted to move a downed powerline while on duty.
Patrolman Odgen was on patrol on his foot post when he came upon an electrical wire that was lying on the ground. Fearing for the safety of the nearby residents, Patrolman Odgen decided the line should be wrapped around the base of a nearby street lamp. As the streetlights were not lighted, Patrolman Ogden assumed that it was safe to move the wire. Just as Patrolman Odgen started to pick up the wire, power was restored to the line in an attempt to test it. Patrolman Odgen was hit with 8,000 volts of electricity and killed instantly.
Patrolman Ogden had served with the Buffalo Police Department for 18 years, and was survived by his wife and three children.
Survivors
Patrolman Ogden had served with the Buffalo Police Department for 18 years, and was survived by his wife and three children.
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
BO-US-NY-A3B6927A- 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 Ogden gave the Buffalo Police Department 18 years.
Thank you for your service to the Buffalo community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Patrolman Ogden.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
Patrolman John R. Ogden 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. John R. Ogden's cause is highlighted.
How John R. Ogden Compares
When Accident Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Accident deaths across the full memorial record. John R. Ogden is highlighted in Jul.
Others Who Wore This Badge
50 officers from Buffalo Police Department are honored on badge.nw. Showing the 16 most recent.
