Incident
Detective John Dumke was shot and killed while attempting to serve an arrest warrant for larceny. Three days later the 26-year-old suspect was found in a house near the crime scene, dead from a self inflicted gun shot wound. Detective Dumke had served with the Buffalo Police Department for eight years and was assigned to Precinct 4.
Survivors
He was survived by his wife and two children.
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.
Detective Dumke gave the Buffalo Police Department 8 years.
Thank you for your service to the Buffalo community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Detective Dumke.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
The Sacrifice · Felonious
Buffalo Police Department has lost 51 officers; 22 of them killed feloniously.
John is one of 739 officers killed feloniously in NY, 34.7% of the 2,132 remembered there.
John is one of 15,742 officers killed feloniously in the United States, 57.1% of the 27,551 remembered there.
John is one of 17,622 officers killed feloniously worldwide, 51.7% of the 34,102 remembered here.
34,102 officers are remembered on this memorial. Each number below is one of them.
Time
In 1919, 1 officer at Buffalo Police Department was killed feloniously, the 2nd heaviest of 21 years on record. The heaviest was 1934, with 2.
In 1919, 12 officers in NY were killed feloniously, the 11th heaviest of 154 years on record. The heaviest was 2001, with 32.
In 1919, 212 officers in the United States were killed feloniously, the 7th heaviest of 213 years on record. The heaviest was 1921, with 248.
In 1919, 232 officers worldwide were killed feloniously, the 6th heaviest of 265 years on record. The heaviest was 1921, with 516.
Who
John had served 8 years; the middle length of service was 8 years.
John had served 8 years; the middle length of service was 8 years.
John had served 8 years; the middle length of service was 6 years.
John had served 8 years; the middle length of service was 6 years.
When
April holds 9.1% of these deaths at Buffalo Police Department; January holds the most, 22.7%. Sundays: 22.7%.
April holds 6.8% of these deaths in NY; September holds the most, 13.8%. Sundays: 13.5%.
April holds 8.4% of these deaths in the United States; December holds the most, 9.4%. Sundays: 15.2%.
April holds 8.6% of these deaths worldwide; December holds the most, 9.2%. Sundays: 15.2%.
How
Felonious deaths account for 43.1% of all 51 deaths at Buffalo Police Department, the 2nd most common cause. The weapon recorded was gun, in 50% of these deaths.
Felonious deaths account for 34.7% of all 2,132 deaths in NY, the most common cause. The weapon recorded was gun, in 27.9% of these deaths.
Felonious deaths account for 57.1% of all 27,551 deaths in the United States, the most common cause. The weapon recorded was gun, in 22.8% of these deaths.
Felonious deaths account for 51.7% of all 34,102 deaths worldwide, the most common cause. The weapon recorded was gun, in 20.4% of these deaths.
His people
Buffalo Police Department has 51 officers remembered here, John among them.
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George Dill Jan 10, 1865
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James M. Shepard Feb 2, 1887
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Albert A. Thurston
Jan 11, 1889
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Timothy J. Cantlin Jan 12, 1896
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Frederick Brown Jun 16, 1896
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William Dreyer Nov 2, 1896
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Patrick J. Cronin Aug 23, 1902
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Louis D. Wanner Apr 5, 1903
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Nicholas Bernard Smith
Sep 7, 1905
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George W. Thomas
Oct 10, 1909
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Simon J. Callinan Oct 25, 1909
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John R. Ogden Jul 25, 1911
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Charles E. Schaeffer
Sep 6, 1911
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George E. Claus
Nov 19, 1912
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William J. Clossey Jun 13, 1913
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John M. Dumke
Apr 20, 1919
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Fred J. Pauley
Jul 19, 1919
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Herman A. Radel
Jul 19, 1919
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Norman R. Hayes
Oct 20, 1919
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Dennis J. Harrington
Oct 2, 1920
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Winfield S. Willis
Aug 22, 1921
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Charles A. Schmitt
Nov 15, 1921
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Emil Woelffel Apr 15, 1922
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Edward Steck
May 22, 1922
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William T. Hunt Jan 17, 1924
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Harold Haltam Dec 23, 1928
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Carl L. Wunderlich
Feb 4, 1930
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John C. Germain Aug 9, 1930
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George T. Miller Dec 20, 1931
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Russell E. Greeley
Nov 20, 1932
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Joseph Striebich
Jan 21, 1934
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Sterling C. Forden Jun 23, 1934
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George L. Uhl Aug 31, 1934
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Edmond Lisiecki
Jan 26, 1936
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Anthony H. Brock
Jan 3, 1937
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Clayton W. Clark Feb 8, 1938
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Frank C. Wypijewski
Mar 20, 1938
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Louis Vastola
Oct 30, 1941
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Fred Ganter Dec 29, 1942
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Robert H. Good
May 11, 1949
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Thomas Dennis Sullivan Feb 22, 1954
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William F. Gleisle
Nov 27, 1967
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Robert J. Arnold
Jan 15, 1968
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Joseph L. O'Neil
Oct 7, 1970
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David John Scime Sep 5, 1974
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Carl O. Reese
Feb 1, 1977
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Charles E. McDougald
Apr 9, 1997
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Robert J. McLellan
Feb 25, 1998
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James A. Shields
Oct 30, 2002
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Patricia A. Parete
Feb 2, 2013
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Craig E. Lehner
Oct 13, 2017
Where the Name Is Cut
National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial · Panel 43-E
What is kept
Photographs, film, sound and papers — what survived a life.
Others Who Wore This Badge
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