Incident
Patrolman Alje Savela was shot and killed while making a traffic stop on Route 122 in Barre at 8:20 pm. A farmer heard several gunshots and found Patrolman Savela's body with seven 9 mm gunshot wounds. One of the suspects in the case later shot and killed Assistant Superintendent James Godwin of the Florida Department of Corrections during an escape attempt on April 4th, 1955. The inmate died in prison. Patrolman Savela was a United States Navy WWII veteran and had served with the Massachusetts State Police for four years, assigned to A Troop. He was survived by his expectant wife, mother, and brother. The range at the Massachusetts State Police Academy is named in his honor. He is buried at North Cemetery in Lunenburg, Massachusetts.
Survivors
Survivors!
In Our Keeping
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- Maintained by NeuraWeb Global Inc.
- Added to badge.nw
- August 2, 2026
- Last updated
- August 2, 2026
Honored here by 1 tribute.
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Tributes
I served 1985 to 1993. You served too, before the badge - different uniform, same idea. You go where you are sent and you do not get to pick the call.
Patrolman Savela gave the Massachusetts State Police 4 years.
Thank you for your service to the people of Massachusetts, and for your service before it. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, brother.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
Military Service
Alje M. Savela served in the the United States military before joining law enforcement.
The Sacrifice · Felonious
Massachusetts State Police has lost 38 officers; 7 of them killed feloniously.
Alje is one of 199 officers killed feloniously in MA, 42.4% of the 469 remembered there.
Alje is one of 15,743 officers killed feloniously in the United States, 57.1% of the 27,552 remembered there.
Alje is one of 17,623 officers killed feloniously worldwide, 51.7% of the 34,103 remembered here.
34,103 officers are remembered on this memorial. Each number below is one of them.
Time
In 1951, 1 officer at Massachusetts State Police was killed feloniously, more than in any other year.
In 1951, 1 officer in MA was killed feloniously, the 51st heaviest of 107 years on record. The heaviest was 1908, with 6.
In 1951, 65 officers in the United States were killed feloniously, the 113th heaviest of 213 years on record. The heaviest was 1921, with 248.
In 1951, 69 officers worldwide were killed feloniously, the 109th heaviest of 265 years on record. The heaviest was 1921, with 516.
Who
Alje was 35. Of the 7 killed feloniously at Massachusetts State Police whose age is recorded, half were between 34 and 48; the middle age was 36. Alje had served 4 years; the middle length of service was 9 years.
Alje was 35. Of the 195 killed feloniously in MA whose age is recorded, half were between 34 and 52.5; the middle age was 42. Alje had served 4 years; the middle length of service was 11 years.
Alje was 35. Of the 14,219 killed feloniously in the United States whose age is recorded, half were between 31 and 47; the middle age was 38. Alje had served 4 years; the middle length of service was 6 years.
Alje was 35. Of the 15,853 killed feloniously worldwide whose age is recorded, half were between 30 and 46; the middle age was 38. Alje had served 4 years; the middle length of service was 6 years.
When
August holds 14.3% of these deaths at Massachusetts State Police; June holds the most, 28.6%. Fridays: 42.9%.
August holds 8% of these deaths in MA; October holds the most, 10.6%. Fridays: 12.1%.
August holds 8.9% of these deaths in the United States; December holds the most, 9.4%. Fridays: 14.3%.
August holds 8.6% of these deaths worldwide; December holds the most, 9.2%. Fridays: 14.3%.
How
Felonious deaths account for 18.4% of all 38 deaths at Massachusetts State Police, the 2nd most common cause. The weapon recorded was handgun, in 57.1% of these deaths.
Felonious deaths account for 42.4% of all 469 deaths in MA, the most common cause. The weapon recorded was handgun, in 22.1% of these deaths.
Felonious deaths account for 57.1% of all 27,552 deaths in the United States, the most common cause. The weapon recorded was handgun, in 23.4% of these deaths.
Felonious deaths account for 51.7% of all 34,103 deaths worldwide, the most common cause. The weapon recorded was handgun, in 20.9% of these deaths.
His people
Massachusetts State Police has 38 officers remembered here, Alje among them.
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Llewellyn A. Lowther
Sep 20, 1924
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George L. Prentiss
Oct 1, 1927
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John E. Higgins
Apr 14, 1928
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Charles A. Better
Sep 28, 1930
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Charles F. McGonagle
Aug 2, 1932
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Earl W. Tobin
Mar 30, 1934
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Joseph W. Kelly
Jul 23, 1938
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Albert T. Hayes
Feb 9, 1940
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Charles J. Collins
May 20, 1942
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Alfred A. Hewett
Jan 4, 1950
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Daniel Furtado
Oct 8, 1950
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Alje M. Savela
Aug 31, 1951
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Wallace E. Mathews
Apr 23, 1953
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James H. Marshall
Oct 21, 1960
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Robert J. MacDougall
Aug 6, 1971
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Edward A. Mahoney
Nov 21, 1976
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Perley Kenneth Johnson Jr.
Feb 13, 1978
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Donald E. Shea
Dec 16, 1978
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George L. Hanna
Feb 26, 1983
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Joseph Francis Moynihan, Jr.
Jun 19, 1990
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Davidson Gould Whiting
Aug 18, 1994
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Mark S. Charbonnier
Sep 2, 1994
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James Mattaliano
Feb 22, 1995
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Paul Andrew Perry
Feb 22, 1995
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James Brian Malloy
Jan 23, 1997
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Drew C. Chandler
Jul 21, 2000
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Vincent P. Cila
Jul 22, 2005
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Paul Francis Barry
Jun 15, 2006
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Paul McCarthy
Jul 1, 2006
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Richard J. Cashin
Jan 28, 2009
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Douglas A. Weddleton
Jun 18, 2010
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Ellen E. Engelhardt
Jun 1, 2011
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Christopher O’Neil
Feb 25, 2016
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Thomas Lee Clardy
Mar 16, 2016
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Thomas William Devlin
Sep 3, 2020
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Tamar Anoush Bucci
Mar 3, 2022
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Enrique Delgado-Garcia
Sep 13, 2024
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Kevin Trainor
May 6, 2026
Where
Military Service
Alje M. Savela served in the United States military before joining law enforcement.
Visit Alje M. Savela’s page on salute.nw →
His full service record — units, decorations, where he served — is kept on salute.nw.
Where the Name Is Cut
National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial · Panel 30-W
What is kept
Photographs, film, sound and papers — what survived a life.
Also Remembered
Others Who Wore This Badge
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