Buffalo Police Department, New York
End of Watch: Saturday, July 19, 1919
Age: 33
Tour of Duty: 5 years
Badge Number: 80
Cause of Death: Automobile crash
Date of Incident: July 19, 1919
Weapon Used: Not available
Suspect Info: Not available
Patrolman Fred Pauley and Patrolman Herman Radel were killed in an automobile crash.
Both patrolmen, along with a third officer, were on patrol in Delaware Park. They were driving on westbound on Delaware Park Boulevard (modern-day Scajaquda Expressway), approaching Delaware Avenue, when their patrol vehicle struck a depression in the road. This propelled the vehicle forward, taking it downhill. The vehicle gained speed until it struck a tree, bounced off that tree, struck a second tree and overturned.
Patrolman Radel was thrown from the police vehicle when it struck the first tree. After being ejected from the police vehicle Patrolman Radel somehow struck the trunk of the car and suffered a fatal skull fracture.
Patrolman Pauley was also thrown from the Ford touring car. He died of massive injuries suffered when he struck the second tree the vehicle had hit.
The third officer was found trapped under the wreckage with minor injuries.
Patrolman Pauley had served with the Buffalo Police Department for five years. He was survived by his wife son and daughter.