Russell E. Greeley
Agency patch
Patrolman

Russell E. Greeley

Buffalo Police Department — Buffalo, NY
Felonious
End of Watch November 20, 1932
Age 30
Tour of Duty 2 yrs
Badge 679
The Vigil Panel 65 ›
Gender Male

Incident

Patrolman Russell Greeley was shot and killed while investigating an accident at the intersection of Broadway Avenue and Fillmore Avenue. He was speaking with the driver of a vehicle that had struck a concrete streetcar platform when the man suddenly produced a pistol and shot him. Another officer at the scene returned fire, killing the suspect. Patrolman Greeley had served with the Buffalo Police Department for two years and was assigned to Precinct 8.

Survivors

He was survived by his wife and 8-year-old son.

In Our Keeping

Permanent identifier
BO-US-NY-F3082986
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 Greeley gave the Buffalo Police Department 2 years.
Thank you for your service to the Buffalo community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Patrolman Greeley.

— 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 November 20, 1932
Tour of Duty 2 yrs
Age 30
Badge Number 679
Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious
Weapon Gun; Unknown type
Offender Shot and killed

Patrolman Russell E. Greeley 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. Russell E. Greeley'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 Russell E. Greeley Compares

Age at End of Watch
30
This officer
Avg for Felonious: 39.0 years
Years of Service
2
This officer
Avg for Felonious: 8.5 years

Offender Outcome

Shot and killed

When Felonious Deaths Occur

Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. Russell E. Greeley is highlighted in Nov.

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. Russell E. Greeley was killed by gun; unknown type.

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

Incident Location