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Charles E. McDougald
Agency patch
Police Officer

Charles E. McDougald

Buffalo Police Department — Buffalo, NY
Felonious
United States flag New York flag
End of Watch April 9, 1997
Age 36
Tour of Duty 8 yrs
Badge 2778
The Vigil Panel 143 ›
Gender Male
Incident Media Service The Sacrifice Memorials 1 Department 50

Incident

Officer Charles McDougald and another officer were shot at approximately 12:45 a.m. after attempting to question a suspicious person who may have been stripping a car. The officers found the subject emerging from a yard on Northhampton Street in Buffalo. As the officers approached, the suspect turned and fired at them. Officer McDougald was struck in the chest and died a short time later at the hospital. He was not wearing a vest at the time of the shooting. His partner was also hit but survived his wound. The 18-year-old suspect, who had a previous history of violent crimes and was out on bail, was found guilty of murder of a police officer and attempted murder of a police officer and sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole. Officer McDougald had served with the Buffalo Police Department for 8 years and was assigned to Precinct 12.

Survivors

He is survived by his wife and four 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.
Police Officer McDougald gave the Buffalo Police Department 8 years.
Thank you for your service to the Buffalo community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Police Officer McDougald.

— 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 April 9, 1997
Tour of Duty 8 yrs
Age 36
Badge Number 2778
Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious
Weapon Handgun

The Sacrifice · Felonious

Charles is one of 15,743 officers killed feloniously in the United States, 57.1% of the 27,551 remembered there.

34,117 officers are remembered on this memorial. Each number below is one of them.

  3. See the roll
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Compare against
I

Time

In 1997, 88 officers in the United States were killed feloniously, the 71st heaviest of 213 years on record. The heaviest was 1921, with 248.

Every year on record · United States
II

Who

Charles was 36. Of the 14,220 killed feloniously in the United States whose age is recorded, half were between 31 and 47; the middle age was 38. Charles 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

April holds 8.4% of these deaths in the United States; December holds the most, 9.4%. Wednesdays: 12.9%.

By month
By day of the week
IV

How

Felonious deaths account for 57.1% of all 27,551 deaths in the United States, the most common cause. The weapon recorded was handgun, in 23.4% of these deaths.

Every cause
Weapons recorded
V

His people

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

Across the years
VI

Where

Police Officer Charles E. McDougald

Buffalo Police Department · End of Watch April 9, 1997

Where the Name Is Cut

National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial · Panel 38-E

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