Roll of Honor

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Police Officer

Peter James Kneeland

Worcester Police Department — Worcester, MA

Veteran → Felonious

End of Watch October 7, 2012

Age 62

Tour of Duty 14 yrs

The Vigil Panel 161 ›

Gender Male

Incident Service The Sacrifice Military Department 8

Incident

Police Officer Peter Kneeland succumbed to injuries sustained on September 18th, 1991, when he was struck by a drunk hit-and-run driver in front of a sports bar on Cambridge Street.

The subject fled the scene but was arrested three days later. He was subsequently convicted of charges connected with the incident.

The collision caused Officer Kneeland to suffer severe head injuries that left him in a wheelchair, unable to communicate, or care for himself. He remained in an institutional care facility from the time of the collision until he passing away as a result of his injuries.

Officer Kneeland had served with the Worcester Police Department for 14 years at the time he was struck.

Survivors

He is survived by his wife, two children, brother, and two sisters.

In Our Keeping

Permanent identifier: BO-US-MA-458754DC
Stewardship: Maintained by NeuraWeb Global Inc.
Added to badge.nw: August 2, 2026
Last updated: August 2, 2026

Honored here by 1 tribute.

Are you family? This record can be claimed and maintained by those who knew Peter. Claim this record.

Also honored at salute.nw — U.S. Air Force. One record, 2 gates. Peter is one person.

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Tributes

I never knew you. I am standing here anyway.
Police Officer Kneeland gave the Worcester Police Department 14 years.
Thank you for your service to the Worcester community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Police Officer Kneeland.

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

Agency

Department Worcester Police Department

Type Police Department

Location Worcester, Worcester County, MA

Platform Identity worcpd.worcester.ma.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch October 7, 2012

Tour of Duty 14 yrs

Age 62

Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious

Cause Detail Vehicular assault

Weapon Automobile; Alcohol involved

Military Service

Peter James Kneeland served in the U.S. Air Force (1970â1973) before joining law enforcement.

View full service record on salute.nw →

Police Officer Peter James Kneeland 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%.

At Worcester Police Department, 2 of 9 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 22.2% of this agency's fallen.

Worcester Police Department

of 9 officers

22.2% Felonious

MA — Statewide

199

of 469 officers

42.4% Felonious

Nationwide

of 97,772 officers

0% Felonious