George W. Thomas

Buffalo Police Department — Buffalo, NY

Cardiac Veteran

End of Watch October 10, 1909

Age 65

Tour of Duty 15 yrs

The Vigil Panel 24 ›

Gender Male

Incident Service The Sacrifice Department 50

Incident

Patrolman George Thomas suffered a fatal heart attack while conducting traffic control at the New York Central Railroad's Genesee Street crossing.

The street was under construction at the time and Patrolman Thomas was allowing one vehicle through at a time. A vehicle disobeyed his commands and he started to run after it to stop it. He suddenly collapsed as he reached the middle of the street.

Patrolman Thomas had served with the Buffalo Police Department for 15 years and was assigned to the Genesee Street Station.

Survivors

He was a veteran of the Civil War and was survived by his wife and one daughter.

In Our Keeping

Permanent identifier: BO-US-NY-CD98EA67
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.
Patrolman Thomas gave the Buffalo Police Department 15 years.
Thank you for your service to the Buffalo community. Thank you for your service before it. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, brother.

— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993

Agency

Department Buffalo Police Department

Location Buffalo, NY

Platform Identity bpd.erie.ny.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch October 10, 1909

Tour of Duty 15 yrs

Age 65

Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Cardiac

Military Service

George W. Thomas served in the United States military before joining law enforcement. Full service record available on salute.nw.

Patrolman George W. Thomas is one of 1,306 officers lost to cardiac events in the line of duty across the full record of this memorial — 4% of all 32,508 officers honored here.

In NY, 99 of 2,147 officers were lost to cardiac events in the line of duty — 4.6% of this state's fallen. That is 0.6 percentage points above the national rate of 4%.

At Buffalo Police Department, 3 of 51 officers on record were lost to cardiac events in the line of duty — 5.9% of this agency's fallen.

Buffalo Police Department

of 51 officers

5.9% Cardiac

NY — Statewide

of 2,147 officers

4.6% Cardiac

Nationwide

1,306

of 32,508 officers

4% Cardiac