Police Officer Craig E. Lehner

Police Officer Craig E. Lehner

Buffalo Police Department, New York

End of Watch Friday, October 13, 2017

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Craig E. Lehner

Police Officer Craig Lehner drowned while conducting a training dive in the Niagara River, in the area of Broderick Park and Bird Island Pier.

Members of the agency's Underwater Recovery Team were conducting a regularly scheduled training exercise in swift water currents. Officer Lehner entered the water as part of the training but failed to surface after his safety cable broke while he was submerged.

Officer Lehner's body was recovered on October 17th, 2017, during a massive recovery effort involving over 20 local, state, federal, and Canadian law enforcement agencies.

Officer Lehner was a veteran of the Army National Guard. He had served with the Buffalo Police Department for nine years and was assigned to the Canine Unit. He is survived by his mother and sister.

In May 2018, the City of Buffalo renamed the police department's new K-9 training building the Lt. Craig E. Lehner K9 Training Facility.

Bio

  • Age 34
  • Tour 9 years
  • Badge 2469
  • Military Veteran

Incident Details

  • Cause Drowned

dive team

Most Recent Reflection

View all 182 Reflections

I miss you daily Craig...our weekend chats about our PSD jobs .our dogs...etc .
I was there that horrible October day with 6 others from dive team...we came so we could help...
Love you Craig.

1st Sgt. T. David Hanna
Minnesota State Patrol Trooper
District 3200

Rest in Peace my beloved brother..American Hero ,,

January 28, 2024

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