Arthur Cashin
Sergeant

Arthur Cashin

Chelsea Police Department — Chelsea, MA
Veteran → Felonious
End of Watch July 20, 1980
Age 37
Tour of Duty 9 yrs
The Vigil Panel 123 ›
Gender Male

Incident

Sergeant Arthur Cashin was shot and killed while making a traffic stop. After stopping a vehicle for going the wrong way on a one-way street in Bellingham Square, Chelsea, Sergeant Cashin approached the driver's side of the vehicle as his partner, Officer William Copello, approached the passenger side. The driver got out of the vehicle and immediately punched Sergeant Cashin, who landed face-first on the sidewalk. The driver then un-holstered Sergeant Cashin's service weapon and shot the officer twice in the back as he lay on the ground. Officer Copello then drew his service weapon, shooting and killing the driver. Sergeant Cashin was pronounced dead shortly after midnight on July 20th at Massachusetts General Hospital in Boston. Sergeant Cashin had served with the Chelsea Police Department for nine years. He was survived by his wife and two young daughters. His nephew, Captain Rick Cashin, was killed in an on-duty automobile accident while serving with the Massachusetts State Police on January 28, 2009.

Survivors

He was survived by his wife and two young daughters.

In Our Keeping

Permanent identifier
BO-US-MA-C4FF5760
Stewardship
Maintained by NeuraWeb Global Inc.
Added to badge.nw
August 2, 2026
Last updated
August 2, 2026

Honored here by 1 tribute.

Are you family? This record can be claimed and maintained by those who knew Arthur. Claim this record.

Also honored at salute.nw — U.S. Navy. One record, 2 gates. Arthur is one person.

This page is permanent and free. No fee to view it, no advertising, no tracking, and no account required. It will not be taken down.

Tributes

I never knew you. I am standing here anyway.
Sergeant Cashin gave the Chelsea Police Department 9 years.
Thank you for your service to the Chelsea community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Sergeant Cashin.

— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993

Agency

Type Other
Location Chelsea, Suffolk County, MA
Platform Identity cpd.suffolk.ma.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch July 20, 1980
Tour of Duty 9 yrs
Age 37
Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious
Weapon Gun

Military Service

Arthur Cashin served in the U.S. Navy (1961–1965) before joining law enforcement.

View full service record on salute.nw →

Sergeant Arthur Cashin is one of 1 officers killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty across the full record of this memorial — 0% of all 97,772 officers honored here.

In MA, 199 of 469 officers were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 42.4% of this state's fallen. That is 42.4 percentage points above the national rate of 0%.

At Chelsea Police Department, 2 of 7 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 28.6% of this agency's fallen.

Chelsea Police Department
2
of 7 officers
28.6% Felonious
MA — Statewide
199
of 469 officers
42.4% Felonious
Nationwide
1
of 97,772 officers
0% Felonious

National Cause Distribution

How Felonious compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. Arthur Cashin's cause is highlighted.

Felonious
1 (0%)
Accident
1 (0%)
Illness
1 (0%)
Cardiac
1 (0%)
Undetermined
1 (0%)
Suicide
1 (0%)

How Arthur Cashin Compares

Age at Death
37
This officer
Avg for Felonious: 39.0 years
Years of Service
9
This officer
Avg for Felonious: 8.4 years

When Felonious Deaths Occur

Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. Arthur Cashin is highlighted in Jul.

Jan
1,392
Feb
1,295
Mar
1,373
Apr
1,516
May
1,504
Jun
1,442
Jul
1,587
Aug
1,517
Sep
1,491
Oct
1,371
Nov
1,447
Dec
1,624

Weapons Used Against Officers

Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. Arthur Cashin was killed by gun.

Handgun
3,684
Gun
3,592
Gun; Unknown type
1,492
Shotgun
1,109
Rifle
935
Officer's handgun
909

Incident Location

Military Service

Arthur Cashin served in the U.S. Navy (1961–1965) before joining law enforcement.

Visit Arthur Cashin’s page on salute.nw →

His full service record — units, decorations, where he served — is kept on salute.nw.