Remembering Milford Officers Killed In The Line Of Duty

MILFORD, MA—President John F. Kennedy proclaimed May 15 as Peace Officers Memorial Day in 1962, and the week surrounding it as National Police Week.

It was established by a joint resolution of Congress, paying recognition to those who lost their lives in the line of duty.

In honor of National Police Week, Patch is remembering and paying tribute to the fallen officers of our Massachusetts towns and cities.

Two members of the Milford Police Department have lost their lives in the line of duty.

Sergeant Walter Conley was shot and killed during a robbery attempt Dec. 10, 1980, after being on the Milford force for 30 years. He was 61. Conley was working a detail at the Milford Savings Bank and was shot and killed while escorting a bank employee who was returning from another bank across the street. The assailants thought the bank employee had a lot of cash, and tried to rob her. They failed, gunfire erupted, and Conley was shot and killed. The assailants fled to NYC and took quite some time to find them. One of the assailants plead guilty and got life in prison. The other was found guilty and also got life in prison without parole.

Officer Harry Butler was shot and killed while working in plainclothes with his partner in a neighborhood in response to gunfire that erupted. Just after midnight on Sept. 8, 1916, someone came up to Butler and his partner and asked what they were doing there. The partner said they were police officers, and the suspect fired a revolver point blank into Butler's face. A gang then came out from the foliage in an ambush. Butler left a wife and three young children.

Fourteen officers have lost their lives at the Milford Department of Corrections, spanning from 1843 to 1998. Three were assaulted, four shot, one had a heart attack and sick were stabbed.

Information and photos used with permission, Officer Down Memorial Page.

Photo: Sgt. Walter Conley