Roll of Honor
Incident
Turnkey Frederick Pfliiger was shot and killed by an inmate who was attempting to escape the State Prison at Charlestown.
The prisoner had been attending a religious service in the chapel. When the prisoners were returning to their cells, a count of the line revealed that the suspect was missing. The escape alarm was sounded and Turnkey Pfliiger ran to assist in the search. As Turnkey Pfliiger approached the suspect's hiding spot, the suspect appeared and opened fire, killing Turnkey Pfliiger. The suspect then exchanged several shots with other guards before he was finally taken into custody.
The suspect later told guards that he found the gun on a bench in the prison shop. He was serving a sentence of 15 to 18 years he received in 1927 for armed robbery. His criminal record dated back to 1921 when he was classified as a juvenile delinquent. On two occasions he shot it out with officers before he was arrested. He was convicted of Turnkey Pfliiger's murder and executed in the electric chair on December 3, 1929.
Turnkey Pfliiger had served with the Massachusetts Department of Correction for 20 years.
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BO-US-MA-176A973C- Stewardship
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- August 2, 2026
- Last updated
- September 9, 2026
Honored here by 1 tribute.
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Tributes
20 years. You could have gone home.
Turnkey Pfliiger gave the Massachusetts Department of Correction 20 years. Still answering calls at the end.
Thank you for your service to the Milford community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Turnkey Pfliiger.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
Turnkey Fredrick Pfliiger 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 Massachusetts Department of Correction, 13 of 15 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 86.7% of this agency's fallen.
National Cause Distribution
How Felonious compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. Fredrick Pfliiger's cause is highlighted.
How Fredrick Pfliiger Compares
When Felonious Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. Fredrick Pfliiger is highlighted in Nov.
Weapons Used Against Officers
Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. Fredrick Pfliiger was killed by handgun; revolver.
Incident Location
Others Who Wore This Badge
14 officers from Massachusetts Department of Correction are honored on badge.nw.
