Roll of Honor

Prev Next

Officer

Thomas J. Giunta

Fall River Police Department — Fall River, MA

Veteran → Felonious

End of Watch August 24, 1994

Age 49

Tour of Duty 21 yrs

Badge 20

The Vigil Panel 140 ›

Gender Male

Incident Service The Sacrifice Military Department 8

Incident

Officer Thomas Giunta was shot and killed as he was distributing free parking permits for a community function in Fall River. When he knocked on the door of a house on Middle Street, the subject answered, and a struggle ensued. The subject wrestled Patrolman Giunta's weapon away from him and then shot him three times. The man was subdued moments later by other officers in the area. A citizen kept Patrolman Giunta alive long enough to get to the hospital by giving him CPR. Patrolman Giunta later died at the hospital. The suspect was found competent to stand trial and was ultimately found guilty of first-degree murder by extreme atrocity. He was sentenced to life in prison without parole on May 29th, 1998. Patrolman Giunta was a U.S. Coast Guard veteran of the Vietnam War and had served with the Fall River Police Department for 21 years.

Survivors

He is survived by his wife, daughter, and two sons.

In Our Keeping

Permanent identifier: BO-US-MA-EBE2DB5B
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 Thomas. Claim this record.

Also honored at salute.nw — U.S. Coast Guard. One record, 2 gates. Thomas is one person.

This page is permanent and free. No fee to view it, no advertising, no tracking, and no account required. It will not be taken down.

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 Giunta gave the Fall River Police Department 21 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 August 24, 1994

Tour of Duty 21 yrs

Age 49

Badge Number 20

Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious

Weapon Gun

Military Service

Thomas J. Giunta served in the U.S. Coast Guard (1965â1969) before joining law enforcement.

View full service record on salute.nw →

Officer Thomas J. Giunta 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