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Francis J. M. Buckley
Agency patch
Detective Sergeant

Francis J. M. Buckley

New York City Police Department — New York, NY
Felonious
United States flag New York flag
End of Watch January 6, 1922
Age 35
Badge 012
The Vigil Panel 100 ›
Gender Male
Incident Media Service The Sacrifice Memorials 1 Department 1,221

Incident

Francis J. M. Buckley was a detective sergeant of the Detective Division, carrying shield 012.

On the evening of 5 January 1922, he and Detective Sergeant William A. Miller were bringing a prisoner, 20-year-old Luther Boddy, to the West 135th Street station house. About a hundred feet from the door, Boddy pulled a hidden gun and opened fire. Miller was killed instantly. Buckley was shot in the abdomen. He was able to tell what had happened, but he died in Harlem Hospital the next day, 6 January 1922, aged 35. Boddy escaped in a commandeered taxi to Philadelphia, was caught after a massive manhunt, and was executed at Sing Sing.

Buckley and his wife had three children. In May 1923 he and Miller were both awarded the Medal of Honor.

Survivors

Detective Buckley was survived by his wife and four children.

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.
Detective Sergeant Buckley served with the New York City Police Department.
Thank you for your service to the New York community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Detective Sergeant Buckley.

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

Agency

Department New York City Police Department
Type Police Department
Location New York, NY
Platform Identity nypd.newyork.ny.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch January 6, 1922
Age 35
Badge Number 012
Gender Male
Assignment Detective Division

Incident Details

Cause Felonious
Weapon Gun

The Sacrifice · Felonious

Francis 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.

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Compare against
I

Time

In 1922, 228 officers in the United States were killed feloniously, the 3rd heaviest of 213 years on record. The heaviest was 1921, with 248.

Every year on record · United States
II

Who

Francis was 35. 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.

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

When

January holds 8% 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 gun, in 22.8% of these deaths.

Every cause
Weapons recorded
V

His people

New York City Police Department has at least 120 officers remembered here, Francis among them.

Across the years
VI

Where

Detective Sergeant Francis J. M. Buckley

New York City Police Department · End of Watch January 6, 1922

Where the Name Is Cut

National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial · Panel 60-E

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