Nicholas Bernard Smith
Agency patch
Patrolman

Nicholas Bernard Smith

Buffalo Police Department — Buffalo, NY
Felonious
End of Watch September 7, 1905
Age 37
Tour of Duty 13 yrs
Gender Male

Incident

Patrolman Nicholas Smith was shot and killed after he and his partner went to investigate the sound of shots being fired. Patrolman Smith and his partner were on foot patrol when they heard gunshots. When they went to the location from which they heard the shots, they found a 14-year-old boy who had been shot in the leg. He told the officers that the man who shot him was hiding in the backyard of the residence they were in front of. When Patrolman Smith and his partner approached the backyard, the suspect opened fire, striking Patrolman Smith in the abdomen. Patrolman Smith was taken to a local hospital but died shortly after from his wound. The suspect who shot Patrolman Smith was never apprehended. Patrolman Smith had served with the Buffalo Police Department for 13 years.

In Our Keeping

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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 Smith gave the Buffalo Police Department 13 years.
Thank you for your service to the Buffalo community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Patrolman Smith.

— 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 September 7, 1905
Tour of Duty 13 yrs
Age 37
Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious
Weapon Gun

The Sacrifice · Felonious

Nicholas 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.

  1. See the roll
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Compare against
I

Time

In 1905, 81 officers in the United States were killed feloniously, the 82nd heaviest of 213 years on record. The heaviest was 1921, with 248.

Every year on record · United States
II

Who

Nicholas was 37. 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. Nicholas had served 13 years; the middle length of service was 6 years.

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

When

September holds 9.1% of these deaths in the United States; December holds the most, 9.4%. Thursdays: 14%.

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 gun, in 22.8% of these deaths.

Every cause
Weapons recorded
V

His people

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

Across the years

Patrolman Nicholas Bernard Smith

Buffalo Police Department · End of Watch September 7, 1905

Where the Name Is Cut

National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial · Panel 57-E

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