Incident
Officer Daniel Lane was electrocuted by an exposed wire from a lamp post at the intersection of Grove Street and Cooke Street in Waterbury at 10:33 pm. He had notified the desk sergeant of the broken lamp, but when the electric company failed to show up, he attempted to fix it himself. As he climbed up the lamp post, the entire lamp post collapsed and landed on top of him. An exposed 2200-volt wire came in contact with him, killing him. Officer Lane had served with the Waterbury Police Department for three years.
Survivors
He was survived by his parents, four brothers, and two sisters.
In Our Keeping
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- Maintained by NeuraWeb Global Inc.
- Added to badge.nw
- August 2, 2026
- Last updated
- August 2, 2026
Honored here by 1 tribute.
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Tributes
I never knew you. I am standing here anyway.
Patrol Officer Lane gave the Waterbury Police Department 3 years.
Thank you for your service to the Waterbury community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Patrol Officer Lane.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
The Sacrifice · Accident
Watertown Police Department has lost 11 officers; 3 of them lost to accidents.
Daniel is one of 73 officers lost to accidents in CT, 43.2% of the 169 remembered there.
Daniel is one of 8,275 officers lost to accidents in the United States, 30% of the 27,551 remembered there.
Daniel is one of 10,100 officers lost to accidents worldwide, 29.8% of the 33,917 remembered here.
33,917 officers are remembered on this memorial. Each number below is one of them.
Time
In 1913, 1 officer in CT was lost to accidents, the 15th heaviest of 53 years on record. The heaviest was 1932, with 4.
In 1913, 35 officers in the United States were lost to accidents, the 112th heaviest of 174 years on record. The heaviest was 1929, with 118.
In 1913, 44 officers worldwide were lost to accidents, the 112th heaviest of 200 years on record. The heaviest was 1930, with 131.
Who
Daniel was 34. Of the 63 lost to accidents in CT whose age is recorded, half were between 31.5 and 47; the middle age was 39. Daniel had served 3 years; the middle length of service was 7 years.
Daniel was 34. Of the 7,718 lost to accidents in the United States whose age is recorded, half were between 29 and 46; the middle age was 36. Daniel had served 3 years; the middle length of service was 6 years.
Daniel was 34. Of the 9,451 lost to accidents worldwide whose age is recorded, half were between 29 and 45; the middle age was 36. Daniel had served 3 years; the middle length of service was 6 years.
When
August holds 6.8% of these deaths in CT; July holds the most, 19.2%. Thursdays: 12.3%.
August holds 9.5% of these deaths in the United States, more than any other month. Thursdays: 14%.
August holds 9.3% of these deaths worldwide, more than any other month. Thursdays: 14.2%.
How
Accident deaths account for 27.3% of all 11 deaths at Watertown Police Department, the 2nd most common cause.
Accident deaths account for 43.2% of all 169 deaths in CT, the 2nd most common cause.
Accident deaths account for 30% of all 27,551 deaths in the United States, the 2nd most common cause.
Accident deaths account for 29.8% of all 33,917 deaths worldwide, the 2nd most common cause.
His people
Watertown Police Department has 11 officers remembered here, Daniel among them.
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Paul Mendelssohn
Mar 8, 1903
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Daniel J. Lane
Aug 7, 1913
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John F. Donahue
Aug 2, 1920
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William J. Stokes
May 2, 1925
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Matthew J. McNally
Nov 20, 1930
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Edward F. Ryan
Jan 27, 1933
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John E. Palmatier
Jul 20, 1941
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Frank D. Romano
Nov 22, 1958
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Leonard J. LaManna
Nov 18, 1961
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Walter T. Williams, III
Dec 18, 1992
-
Bruce Hanley
Dec 13, 1997
Where
Where the Name Is Cut
National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial · Panel 42-W
What is kept
Photographs, film, sound and papers — what survived a life.
Others Who Wore This Badge
10 officers from Watertown Police Department are honored on badge.nw.









