Remembering Worcester Officers Killed In The Line Of Duty

WORCESTER, 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.

Six members of the Worcester Police Department lost their lives in the line of duty.

Officer Peter Kneeland was hit by a drunk driver in front of a sports bar on Cambridge Street on Sept. 18, 1991. He was severely injured, and ultimately died from those injuries. The driver fled but was arrested three days later. Kneeland had severe head injuries and landed in a wheelchair, unable to talk or care for himself. He was in institutional care until he died from the injuries. He was with Worcester police for 14 years and left a wife, two children, a brother and two sisters.

Sergeant Michael Allen Towner succumbed to injuries sustained six weeks earlier while struggling with a violent subject at a basketball game, dying on April 7, 2009. Towner and another officer worked security at the game, and had to remove a mouthy person at the game, and then tried to arrest a subject who was getting physically abusive. During the struggle, Towner and his partner slipped on a patch of ice, the suspect running off but caught. Towner became short of breath, was brought to the hospital, but died after emergency heart surgery. He was with WPD for 33 years and left a wife and two kids.

Sergeant John McGinn suffered a fatal heart attack during a stressful situation while on duty on Oct. 15, 1981. He had served with the agency for 23 years and was survived by his wife and child.

Officer Ernest Brunette, Jr., suffered a fatal heart attack while on duty on July 31, 1970. He had served with the Worcester Police Department for 28 years and was survived by his wife and child. He was 51.

Officer Robert Hazelhurst was killed in an automobile accident on Nov. 21, 1968 while on duty. Hazelhurst, who was 31, was survived by his wife and four children.

City Marshal Frederick Warren was accidentally shot and killed by a sheriff's deputy who was visiting the city from Charleston, South Carolina, while searching for two wanted men on Nov. 13, 1858. The deputy had been in Worcester for approximately one week and had been assisted by Warren and other members of the Worcester Police Department. Warren, who was 49, had just left police court and returned to his office with the deputy. The two chatted about firearms used in law enforcement when Warren removed a revolver from his safe and let the deputy examine it. As the deputy pulled back the hammer of the revolver his thumb slipped off of it, causing the revolver to discharge. The round struck Warren in the chest, causing a fatal wound. Other officers immediately ran into his office, where Warren stated the shooting was an accident and absolved the deputy of any blame. Warren was immediately attended to by doctors and taken home, where he died three days later. Warren had served as the city marshal and constable of Worcester for at least eight years. He was survived by his wife, two daughters, and mother. He was buried in Rural Cemetery.

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