Special Agent

Buford A. French

Felonious
End of Watch November 11, 1932
Age 40
Tour of Duty 6 yrs
The Vigil Panel 65 ›
Gender Male

Incident

Location: California Weapon: Handgun; .380 caliber Offender: At large

Special Agent Buford French was shot and killed while patrolling the railroad yards in San Bernardino, California, approximately a half mile below Rialto Avenue.

As he escorted a hobo from the rail yards the man suddenly pulled out a gun and fatally shot him. His killer was never apprehended.

Special Agent French had served with the ATSF Railroad Police for six years and had previously served with the Riverside Police Department.

In Our Keeping

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Stewardship
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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.
Special Agent French gave the Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe Railroad Police Department 6 years.
Thank you for your service to the Topeka community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Special Agent French.

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

Agency

Type Police Department
Location Topeka, Shawnee County, KS
Platform Identity atsfrpd.rr.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch November 11, 1932
Tour of Duty 6 yrs
Age 40
Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious
Cause Detail Gunfire
Weapon Handgun; .380 caliber

The Sacrifice · Felonious

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

33,917 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 1932, 210 officers in the United States were killed feloniously, the 8th heaviest of 213 years on record. The heaviest was 1921, with 248.

Every year on record · United States
II

Who

Buford was 40. 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. Buford had served 6 years; the middle length of service was 6 years.

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

When

November holds 8.1% of these deaths in the United States; December holds the most, 9.4%. Fridays: 14.3%.

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; .380 caliber, in 0.1% of these deaths.

Every cause
Weapons recorded
V

His people

Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe Railroad Police Department has 32 officers remembered here, Buford among them.

VI

Where

Special Agent Buford A. French

Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe Railroad Police Department · End of Watch November 11, 1932

Where the Name Is Cut

National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial · Panel 40-E

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