Patrolman

William Dreyer

Buffalo Police Department — Buffalo, NY
Accident
End of Watch November 2, 1896
Age 28
The Vigil Panel 36 ›
Gender Male

Incident

Patrolman William Dreyer was struck by a train while walking his beat.

He was in the process of patrolling the Lake Shore Railroad tracks on Elk Street. Just after a passenger train passed, Patrolman Dreyer resumed his patrol of the railroad crossing and was chasing subjects who had broken into rail cars. Unknown to Patrolman Dreyer, another train was backing down the tracks. Unaware of the approach of that train, Patrolman Dreyer remained on the tracks, and was struck by the second train and was killed instantly.

Patrolman Dreyer was assigned to the 7th Precinct.

He was in the process of patrolling the Lake Shore Railroad tracks on Elk Street. Just after a passenger train passed, Patrolman Dreyer resumed his patrol of the railroad crossing and was chasing subjects who had broken into rail cars. Unknown to Patrolman Dreyer, another train was backing down the tracks. Unaware of the approach of that train, Patrolman Dreyer remained on the tracks, and was struck by the second train and was killed instantly.

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August 2, 2026

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Tributes

130 years is a long time for a name to go unread. Not today.
Patrolman Dreyer served with the Buffalo Police Department.
Thank you for your service to the Buffalo community. Gone but never to be forgotten.

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

Agency

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

Service Record

End of Watch November 2, 1896
Age 28
Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Accident

The Sacrifice · Accident

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

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

  1. See the roll
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Compare against
I

Time

In 1896, 17 officers in the United States were lost to accidents, the 124th heaviest of 174 years on record. The heaviest was 1929, with 118.

Every year on record · United States
II

Who

William was 28. 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.

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

When

November holds 8.4% of these deaths in the United States; August holds the most, 9.5%. Mondays: 13.4%.

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, William among them.

Across the years
VI

Where

Patrolman William Dreyer

Buffalo Police Department · End of Watch November 2, 1896

Where the Name Is Cut

National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial · Panel 36-E

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