Roll of Honor

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Officer

John W. Ruggiero

Fall River Police Department — Fall River, MA

Veteran → Veteran → Felonious

End of Watch July 23, 1973

Age 27

Tour of Duty 3 yrs

Badge 167

The Vigil Panel 112 ›

Gender Male

Incident Service The Sacrifice Military Department 8

Incident

Officer John Ruggiero was shot and killed while investigating a suspicious vehicle on Boutwell Street at 3:30 am. He had observed the car driving without lights and began to follow the car. The vehicle pulled into a parking lot and two men jumped out and ran towards Officer Ruggiero's patrol car while shooting at him. The suspects, 26 and 34, were apprehended a short time later. The youngest was sentenced to life. In 1988 Officer Ruggiero's wife as well as others throughout this nation were enraged when they found out since 1984 her husband's killer had been released more than 30 times under Massachusetts' furlough program. One inmate released, committed a brutal attack and rape. Massachusetts Governor Michael Dukakis, running for president, saw his leed in the poles evaporate. This and his famous tank ride led to his loss to George H.W. Bush. Furlough programs existed in 40 states, but were done away with over the next two years due to public pressure. Officer Ruggiero was a U.S. Navy veteran and had served with the Fall River Police Department for almost three years.

Survivors

He was survived by his wife and two children.

In Our Keeping

Permanent identifier: BO-US-MA-336EEE81
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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Also honored at salute.nw — U.S. Navy, salute.nw. One record, 3 gates. John is one person.

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Tributes

I served 1985 to 1993. You served too, before the badge - different uniform, same idea. You go where you are sent and you do not get to pick the call.
Officer Ruggiero gave the Fall River Police Department 3 years.
Thank you for your service to the Fall River community, and for your service before it. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, brother.

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

Agency

Department Fall River Police Department

Type Police Department

Location Fall River, Bristol County, MA

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

Service Record

End of Watch July 23, 1973

Tour of Duty 3 yrs

Age 27

Badge Number 167

Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious

Weapon Handgun

Military Service

John W. Ruggiero served in the U.S. Navy (1963â1971) before joining law enforcement.

View full service record on salute.nw →

Officer John W. Ruggiero 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 97,759 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 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

of 97,759 officers

0% Felonious