Incident
Correctional Officer Anthony Acosta was accidentally shot and killed while returning his service revolver to a gun locker at the old Hampden County House of Correction on York Street in Springfield. He was returning to the gun to the locker following visiting hours when it was accidentally discharged. The round struck him in the face, killing him. Officer Acosta had served with the Hampden County Sheriff's Office for two years.
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
BO-US-MA-18DCDAA5- Stewardship
- Maintained by NeuraWeb Global Inc.
- Added to badge.nw
- April 2, 2026
- Last updated
- July 23, 2026
Honored here by 1 sentinel - 1 tribute.
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Tributes
I never knew you. I am standing here anyway.
Correctional Officer Acosta gave the Hampden County Sheriff's Office 2 years.
Thank you for your service to the Springfield community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Correctional Officer Acosta.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
Correctional Officer Anthony Acosta is one of 10,088 officers lost to accidents in the line of duty across the full record of this memorial — 31% of all 32,508 officers honored here.
In MA, 158 of 469 officers were lost to accidents in the line of duty — 33.7% of this state's fallen. That is 2.7 percentage points above the national rate of 31%.
At Hampden County Sheriff's Office, 1 of 3 officers on record were lost to accidents in the line of duty — 33.3% of this agency's fallen.
National Cause Distribution
How Accident compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. Anthony Acosta's cause is highlighted.
How Anthony Acosta Compares
When Accident Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Accident deaths across the full memorial record. Anthony Acosta is highlighted in Feb.
Incident Location
Others Who Wore This Badge
2 officers from Hampden County Sheriff's Office are honored on badge.nw.

