Roll of Honor
Incident
Patrolman John McKenzie succumbed to injuries he received when he was struck in a hit-and-run while directing traffic at Broadway and Eleanor Street in Chelsea. On August 6, 1924, Patrolman McKezie was directing traffic when a driver failed to stop at the intersection, hitting him and another officer. The driver kept driving and abandoned his car on Shurtleff Street. Patrolman McKenzie was transported to Chelsea Memorial Hospital with severe head lacerations. He passed away from his injuries two months later. The driver was sentenced to one year for leaving the scene of a crash and was fined $150 for failing to stop at the intersection, operating an automobile dangerously, and leaving the scene of an accident. Patrolman McKenzie had served with the Chelsea Police Department for 18 years.
Survivors
He was survived by his wife, five sons, and two daughters.
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
BO-US-MA-6F500162- 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 McKenzie gave the Chelsea Police Department 18 years.
Thank you for your service to the Chelsea community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Patrolman McKenzie.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
Patrolman John James McKenzie is one of 1 officers lost to accidents in the line of duty across the full record of this memorial — 0% of all 97,772 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 33.7 percentage points above the national rate of 0%.
At Chelsea Police Department, 3 of 7 officers on record were lost to accidents in the line of duty — 42.9% of this agency's fallen.
National Cause Distribution
How Accident compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. John James McKenzie's cause is highlighted.
How John James McKenzie Compares
When Accident Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Accident deaths across the full memorial record. John James McKenzie is highlighted in Oct.
Incident Location
Others Who Wore This Badge
6 officers from Chelsea Police Department are honored on badge.nw.
