Gideon Manchester

Fall River Police Department — Fall River, MA

Felonious

End of Watch July 16, 1852

Age 35

The Vigil Panel 1 ›

Gender Male

Incident Service The Sacrifice Department 8

Incident

Constable Gideon Manchester was shot and killed as he attempted to confront a suspect who was burglarizing Fall River stores.

The burglar was seen breaking into numerous businesses and stealing approximately $500 in cash in the early morning hours. Constable Manchester confronted him and attempted to place him under arrest, but the suspect drew a pistol and fired striking Constable Manchester and mortally wounding him.

The suspect was later arrested and convicted of murdering Constable Manchester. He was executed on April 28, 1854.

Constable Manchester was survived by his wife, mother, and three young children.

Survivors

Constable Manchester was survived by his wife, mother, and three young children.

In Our Keeping

Permanent identifier: BO-US-MA-CF02792E
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

174 years is a long time for a name to go unread. Not today.
Constable Manchester served with the Fall River Police Department.
Thank you for your service to the Fall River community. Gone but never to be forgotten.

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

Agency

Department Fall River Police Department

Location Fall River, MA

Platform Identity frpd.bristol.ma.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch July 16, 1852

Age 35

Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious

Cause Detail Gunfire

Weapon Handgun; Pistol

Offender Executed

Constable Gideon Manchester is one of 17,623 officers killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty across the full record of this memorial — 54.2% of all 32,508 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 11.8 percentage points below the national rate of 54.2%.

At Fall River Police Department, 3 of 9 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 33.3% of this agency's fallen.

Fall River Police Department

of 9 officers

33.3% Felonious

MA — Statewide

199

of 469 officers

42.4% Felonious

Nationwide

17,623

of 32,508 officers

54.2% Felonious