Roll of Honor
Incident
Deputy Mead suffered a fatal head injury while struggling with two prisoners at the Niagara County Jail. He bumped his head during the struggle but continued working. The next day he collapsed and was taken to a Scranton Hospital where he died as a result of his head injury. One of the prisoners was charged in connection with Deputy Mead's death. On October 3, 1967, he pleaded guilty to second degree manslaughter and was sentenced to 5 years. He received an additional 5 years for a robbery conviction. Following his release the suspect was arrested, convicted, and sent back to prison on July 24, 1974, for raping three women in May and June of 1973. He was paroled July 3, 1993. In September of 1994 he was arrested in Niagara Falls after he robbed, raped, and brutally murdered a 77 year-old woman in her home. He was sentenced to 69 years to life March 1, 1996. Deputy Mead was a Major in the U.S. Army Military Police during World War II.
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
BO-US-NY-B4B83CC2- 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.
Deputy Sheriff Mead gave the Niagara County Sheriff's Office 13 years.
Thank you for your service to the Lockport community, and for your service before it. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, brother.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
Military Service
Howard Duane Mead served in the United States military before joining law enforcement. Full service record available on salute.nw.
Deputy Sheriff Howard Duane Mead 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 Niagara County Sheriff's Office, 3 of 5 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 60% of this agency's fallen.
National Cause Distribution
How Felonious compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. Howard Duane Mead's cause is highlighted.
How Howard Duane Mead Compares
Offender Outcome
Sentenced to 5 years
When Felonious Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. Howard Duane Mead is highlighted in Jun.
Weapons Used Against Officers
Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. Howard Duane Mead was killed by person.
Others Who Wore This Badge
4 officers from Niagara County Sheriff's Office are honored on badge.nw.
