Joseph E. Gonya

Boston Police Department — Roxbury Crossing, MA

Veteran → Felonious

End of Watch October 21, 1923

Age 27

The Vigil Panel 46 ›

Gender Male

Incident Service The Sacrifice Military Department 105

Incident

Patrolman Joseph Gonya was shot and killed while attempting to apprehend three auto theft suspects in Cleary Square. Two suspects were eventually apprehended. Both of them were charged with murder but were acquitted at trial. Patrolman Gonya was a U.S. Navy veteran of WWI who had served with the Boston Police Department for four years and had previously served with the Mansfield Police Department.

Survivors

He was survived by his parents, brother, and two sisters.

In Our Keeping

Permanent identifier: BO-US-MA-68DB2398
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. One record, 2 gates. Joseph 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.
Patrolman Gonya served with the Boston Police Department.
Thank you for your service to the Roxbury Crossing 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 Boston Police Department

Type Police Department

Location Roxbury Crossing, Suffolk County, MA

Platform Identity bpd.suffolk.ma.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch October 21, 1923

Age 27

Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious

Weapon Handgun

Military Service

Joseph E. Gonya served in the U.S. Navy before joining law enforcement.

View full service record on salute.nw →

Patrolman Joseph E. Gonya 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 Boston Police Department, 45 of 106 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 42.5% of this agency's fallen.

Boston Police Department

of 106 officers

42.5% Felonious

MA — Statewide

199

of 469 officers

42.4% Felonious

Nationwide

of 97,759 officers

0% Felonious