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Herman A. Radel
Agency patch
Patrolman

Herman A. Radel

Buffalo Police Department — Buffalo, NY
Accident
United States flag New York flag
End of Watch July 19, 1919
Age 38
Tour of Duty 8 yrs
Badge 165
The Vigil Panel 37 ›
Gender Male
Incident Media Service The Sacrifice Memorials 1 Department 50

Incident

Patrolman Herman Radel and Patrolman Fred Pauley were killed in an automobile crash. Both patrolmen, along with a third officer, were on patrol in Delaware Park. They were driving on westbound on Delaware Park Boulevard (modern-day Scajaquda Expressway), approaching Delaware Avenue, when their patrol vehicle struck a depression in the road. This propelled the vehicle forward, taking it downhill. The vehicle gained speed until it struck a tree, bounced off that tree, struck a second tree and overturned. Patrolman Radel was thrown from the police vehicle when it struck the first tree. After being ejected from the police vehicle Patrolman Radel somehow struck the trunk of the car and suffered a fatal skull fracture. Patrolman Pauley was also thrown from the Ford touring car. He died of massive injuries suffered when he struck the second tree the vehicle had hit. The third officer was found trapped under the wreckage with minor injuries. Patrolman Radel had served with the Buffalo Police Department for 8 years.

Survivors

He was survived by his wife and eight children.

In Our Keeping

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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.
Patrolman Radel gave the Buffalo Police Department 8 years.
Thank you for your service to the Buffalo community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Patrolman Radel.

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

Agency

Department Buffalo Police Department
Type Police Department
Location Buffalo, Erie County, NY
Platform Identity bpd.erie.ny.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch July 19, 1919
Tour of Duty 8 yrs
Age 38
Badge Number 165
Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Accident

The Sacrifice · Accident

Herman is one of 8,275 officers lost to accidents in the United States, 30% of the 27,551 remembered there.

33,917 officers are remembered on this memorial. Each number below is one of them.

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Compare against
I

Time

In 1919, 51 officers in the United States were lost to accidents, the 94th heaviest of 174 years on record. The heaviest was 1929, with 118.

Every year on record · United States
II

Who

Herman was 38. 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. Herman had served 8 years; the middle length of service was 6 years.

Age at death
Where he stood among them
Age by years of service
III

When

July holds 9.3% of these deaths in the United States; August holds the most, 9.5%. Saturdays: 14.9%.

By month
By day of the week
IV

How

Accident deaths account for 30% of all 27,551 deaths in the United States, the 2nd most common cause.

Every cause
Weapons recorded
V

His people

Buffalo Police Department has 51 officers remembered here, Herman among them.

Across the years
VI

Where

Patrolman Herman A. Radel

Buffalo Police Department · End of Watch July 19, 1919

Where the Name Is Cut

National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial · Panel 25-E

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