James Lonchiadis
Agency patch
Patrolman

James Lonchiadis

Shrewsbury Police Department — Shrewsbury, MA
Felonious
End of Watch March 5, 1975
Age 28
Tour of Duty 9 mo
Badge 43
The Vigil Panel 115 ›
Gender Male

Incident

Patrolman James Lonchiadis was shot and killed when he interrupted an auto theft in progress at the Worcester City Motel on Route 9. The 16-year-old suspect was able to disarm Patrolman Lonchiadis at gunpoint and forced him into the trunk of his patrol car. The teen then fatally shot him in the chest as Patrolman Lonchiadis told him he had a wife and two kids while pleading for his life. The subject was arrested and sentenced to life in prison. He was paroled in 2008, but re-incarcerated in 2010 after being arrested for a parole violation. He was denied parole in January 2012. On February 4th, 2021, he was medically paroled. The parole board said he was suffering from throat cancer and COVID-19, and was not likely to live much longer. He died in a prison hospital in May 2021. Patrolman Lonchiadis had served with the Shrewsbury Police Department for nine months. He was survived by his wife, daughter, and son, who became a member of the Shrewsbury Police Department in 1995. His son, Lieutenant Lonchiadis, was serving his 26th year with the Shrewsbury Police Department when his father's killer was paroled.

Survivors

He was survived by his wife, daughter, and son, who became a member of the Shrewsbury Police Department in 1995.

In Our Keeping

Permanent identifier
BO-US-MA-456FEDAE
Stewardship
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 never knew you. I am standing here anyway.
Patrolman Lonchiadis served with the Shrewsbury Police Department.
Thank you for your service to the Shrewsbury community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Patrolman Lonchiadis.

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

Agency

Type Police Department
Location Shrewsbury, Worcester County, MA
Platform Identity shrepd.worcester.ma.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch March 5, 1975
Tour of Duty 9 mo
Age 28
Badge Number 43
Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious
Weapon Handgun

Patrolman James Lonchiadis 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%.

Shrewsbury Police Department
1
of 1 officers
100% 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. James Lonchiadis's cause is highlighted.

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

How James Lonchiadis Compares

Age at Death
28
This officer
Avg for Felonious: 39.0 years
Years of Service
0.7
This officer
Avg for Felonious: 8.4 years

When Felonious Deaths Occur

Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. James Lonchiadis is highlighted in Mar.

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. James Lonchiadis was killed by handgun.

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

Incident Location

Others Who Wore This Badge

0 officers from Shrewsbury Police Department are honored on badge.nw.