Patrolman

John R. Ogden

Buffalo Police Department — Buffalo, NY
Accident
End of Watch July 25, 1911
Age 44
Tour of Duty 18 yrs
The Vigil Panel 25 ›
Gender Male

Incident

Patrolman Ogden was electrocuted when he attempted to move a downed powerline while on duty.

Patrolman Odgen was on patrol on his foot post when he came upon an electrical wire that was lying on the ground. Fearing for the safety of the nearby residents, Patrolman Odgen decided the line should be wrapped around the base of a nearby street lamp. As the streetlights were not lighted, Patrolman Ogden assumed that it was safe to move the wire. Just as Patrolman Odgen started to pick up the wire, power was restored to the line in an attempt to test it. Patrolman Odgen was hit with 8,000 volts of electricity and killed instantly.

Patrolman Ogden had served with the Buffalo Police Department for 18 years, and was survived by his wife and three children.

Survivors

Patrolman Ogden had served with the Buffalo Police Department for 18 years, and was survived by his wife and three children.

In Our Keeping

Permanent identifier
neuraspine_01krbxtpyhmn5338a4zd34sa3a
Stewardship
Maintained by NeuraWeb Global Inc.
Added to badge.nw
August 2, 2026
Last updated
August 2, 2026

Honored here by 1 tribute.

Are you family? This record can be claimed and maintained by those who knew John. Claim this record.

This page is permanent and free. No fee to view it, no advertising, no tracking, and no account required. It will not be taken down.

Tributes

I never knew you. I am standing here anyway.
Patrolman Ogden gave the Buffalo Police Department 18 years.
Thank you for your service to the Buffalo community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Patrolman Ogden.

— 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 July 25, 1911
Tour of Duty 18 yrs
Age 44
Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Accident

The Sacrifice · Accident

John is one of 8,275 officers lost to accidents in the United States, 30% 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
  2. See the roll
Compare against
I

Time

In 1911, 29 officers in the United States were lost to accidents, the 115th heaviest of 174 years on record. The heaviest was 1929, with 118.

Every year on record · United States
II

Who

John was 44. 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. John had served 18 years; the middle length of service was 6 years.

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

When

July holds 9.3% of these deaths in the United States; August holds the most, 9.5%. Tuesdays: 14.1%.

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, John among them.

Across the years

Patrolman John R. Ogden

Buffalo Police Department · End of Watch July 25, 1911

Where the Name Is Cut

National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial · Panel 5-E

↑