Roll of Honor
Incident
Chief of Police Robert Mortell was shot and killed after locating three burglary suspects on Kendall Road in Holden. Chief Mortell was responding to the call from a neighboring department, and as he turned the corner to the residence where the burglary had occurred, in a wooded area, he spotted one of the suspects. He was confronting one of the subjects at gunpoint when the man opened fire, killing him. All three subjects were arrested. The subject who shot and killed Chief Mortell was sentenced to life without parole. Another subject was convicted of second-degree murder and was denied parole in 2023. The other accomplice was found guilty of armed robbery, assault with a dangerous weapon, and larceny and was paroled in 2023. A Boston police officer, while on his way home from the funeral of Chief Mortell, apprehended a suspect who had just shot and killed Police Officer Berisford Anderson of the Boston Police Department. Chief Mortell was an instructor at the in-service academy at Mt. Wachusett Community College, served as the town of Paxton D.A.R.E. Officer, and was a high honors graduate of the Quinsigamond Community College Criminal Justice Program. He had served with the Paxton Police Department for 12 years.
Survivors
He is survived by his wife, son, and two daughters.
In Our Keeping
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BO-US-MA-54048FBE- Stewardship
- Maintained by NeuraWeb Global Inc.
- Added to badge.nw
- August 2, 2026
- Last updated
- August 2, 2026
Honored here by 1 sentinel - 1 tribute.
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Tributes
I never knew you. I am standing here anyway.
Chief of Police Mortell gave the Paxton Police Department 12 years.
Thank you for your service to the Paxton community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Chief of Police Mortell.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
Chief of Police Robert J. Mortell is one of 17,559 officers killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty across the full record of this memorial — 53.9% of all 32,587 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 11.5 percentage points below the national rate of 53.9%.
National Cause Distribution
How Felonious compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. Robert J. Mortell's cause is highlighted.
How Robert J. Mortell Compares
When Felonious Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. Robert J. Mortell is highlighted in Feb.
Weapons Used Against Officers
Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. Robert J. Mortell was killed by gun.