Craig was an All-American man who would go above and beyond to help those around him. He joined the United States Army after his junior year of high school and greatly enjoyed his time in the Military Police Corps. Afterward, he said, “I served my country, now I want to serve my community.” He then transitioned to the police force. Craig began in the Gang Suppression Unit, where he won a Mayoral Award for Excellence, and later moved to the K-9 and Dive Teams. He was certified to Dive on site at Guantanamo Bay.
When he was a child, Craig received a pair of Superman Pajamas which he wore so often that it became a rarity to see him in anything else. The PJ wearing and his admiration of superheroes earned him the nickname “Superman.” As an adult, after surviving large 3rd degree burns (from which he bore only 2 small scars) the nickname was reinforced.
Lehner, Craig E. Suddenly October 17, 2017 of Buffalo, NY. Beloved son of Kathleen (nee Zuch) and late Donald Lehner; devoted brother of Donna (Jeffrey) Wilson, Michael (Chris) Lehner, Linda (Jim) Iannuzzi, Kerry (Wayne) Koch, Cherelyn (Andrew) Hughes, late Thomas Lehner, and Jeffrey Latka; cherished K-9 partner of Shield; also survived by nieces, nephews, aunts, uncles, and cousins. Friends received at LAKESIDE MEMORIAL FUNERAL HOME, INC. 4199 Lake Shore Rd. (corner Camp Rd. & Rte. 5) Hamburg, NY 716-627-2919 on Monday and Tuesday from 3 – 8 PM. Funeral services will be held at the Key Bank Center on Wednesday at 10 AM. Please assemble at the Key Bank Center. Flowers gratefully declined. Please leave online condolences at www.lakesidefuneralhome.com.
Police Officer Craig Lehner drowned while conducting a training dive as part of the rescue dive team 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.
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.
When he was a child, Craig received a pair of Superman Pajamas which he wore so often that it became a rarity to see him in anything else. The PJ wearing and his admiration of superheroes earned him the nickname “Superman.” As an adult, after surviving large 3rd degree burns (from which he bore only 2 small scars) the nickname was reinforced.
Lehner, Craig E. Suddenly October 17, 2017 of Buffalo, NY. Beloved son of Kathleen (nee Zuch) and late Donald Lehner; devoted brother of Donna (Jeffrey) Wilson, Michael (Chris) Lehner, Linda (Jim) Iannuzzi, Kerry (Wayne) Koch, Cherelyn (Andrew) Hughes, late Thomas Lehner, and Jeffrey Latka; cherished K-9 partner of Shield; also survived by nieces, nephews, aunts, uncles, and cousins. Friends received at LAKESIDE MEMORIAL FUNERAL HOME, INC. 4199 Lake Shore Rd. (corner Camp Rd. & Rte. 5) Hamburg, NY 716-627-2919 on Monday and Tuesday from 3 – 8 PM. Funeral services will be held at the Key Bank Center on Wednesday at 10 AM. Please assemble at the Key Bank Center. Flowers gratefully declined. Please leave online condolences at www.lakesidefuneralhome.com.
Police Officer Craig Lehner drowned while conducting a training dive as part of the rescue dive team 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.
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.
Craig was an All-American man who would go above and beyond to help those around him. He joined the United States Army after his junior year of high school and greatly enjoyed his time in the Military Police Corps. Afterward, he said, “I served my country, now I want to serve my community.” He then transitioned to the police force. Craig began in the Gang Suppression Unit, where he won a Mayoral Award for Excellence, and later moved to the K-9 and Dive Teams. He was certified to Dive on site at Guantanamo Bay.
When he was a child, Craig received a pair of Superman Pajamas which he wore so often that it became a rarity to see him in anything else. The PJ wearing and his admiration of superheroes earned him the nickname “Superman.” As an adult, after surviving large 3rd degree burns (from which he bore only 2 small scars) the nickname was reinforced.
Lehner, Craig E. Suddenly October 17, 2017 of Buffalo, NY. Beloved son of Kathleen (nee Zuch) and late Donald Lehner; devoted brother of Donna (Jeffrey) Wilson, Michael (Chris) Lehner, Linda (Jim) Iannuzzi, Kerry (Wayne) Koch, Cherelyn (Andrew) Hughes, late Thomas Lehner, and Jeffrey Latka; cherished K-9 partner of Shield; also survived by nieces, nephews, aunts, uncles, and cousins. Friends received at LAKESIDE MEMORIAL FUNERAL HOME, INC. 4199 Lake Shore Rd. (corner Camp Rd. & Rte. 5) Hamburg, NY 716-627-2919 on Monday and Tuesday from 3 – 8 PM. Funeral services will be held at the Key Bank Center on Wednesday at 10 AM. Please assemble at the Key Bank Center. Flowers gratefully declined. Please leave online condolences at www.lakesidefuneralhome.com.
Police Officer Craig Lehner drowned while conducting a training dive as part of the rescue dive team 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.
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.
When he was a child, Craig received a pair of Superman Pajamas which he wore so often that it became a rarity to see him in anything else. The PJ wearing and his admiration of superheroes earned him the nickname “Superman.” As an adult, after surviving large 3rd degree burns (from which he bore only 2 small scars) the nickname was reinforced.
Lehner, Craig E. Suddenly October 17, 2017 of Buffalo, NY. Beloved son of Kathleen (nee Zuch) and late Donald Lehner; devoted brother of Donna (Jeffrey) Wilson, Michael (Chris) Lehner, Linda (Jim) Iannuzzi, Kerry (Wayne) Koch, Cherelyn (Andrew) Hughes, late Thomas Lehner, and Jeffrey Latka; cherished K-9 partner of Shield; also survived by nieces, nephews, aunts, uncles, and cousins. Friends received at LAKESIDE MEMORIAL FUNERAL HOME, INC. 4199 Lake Shore Rd. (corner Camp Rd. & Rte. 5) Hamburg, NY 716-627-2919 on Monday and Tuesday from 3 – 8 PM. Funeral services will be held at the Key Bank Center on Wednesday at 10 AM. Please assemble at the Key Bank Center. Flowers gratefully declined. Please leave online condolences at www.lakesidefuneralhome.com.
Police Officer Craig Lehner drowned while conducting a training dive as part of the rescue dive team 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.
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.
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