Walter F. "Moose" Conley
Agency patch
Sergeant

Walter F. "Moose" Conley

Milford Police Department — Milford, MA
Felonious
End of Watch December 10, 1980
Age 61
Tour of Duty 30 yrs
The Vigil Panel 123 ›
Gender Male

Incident

Sergeant Walter Conley was shot and killed during a robbery attempt outside the Milford Savings Bank on Route 140 in Milford. Sergeant Conley was working a detail at the Milford Savings Bank and was escorting a bank employee who was converting $50 in pennies into paper currency to another bank across the street at 3:40 p.m. The assailants believed the bank employee was in possession of a large amount of cash and tried to rob the employee during the trip. When they failed, gunfire erupted, and Sergeant Conley was struck in the stomach and shoulder as he pushed the bank employee out of the barrage of bullets. Sergeant Conley was transported to the Milford Hospital, where he succumbed to his wounds. The two suspects fled; however, after an intense investigation and manhunt, they were arrested in New York State. One suspect pleaded guilty and was sentenced to life in prison without parole on the murder indictment and concurrent terms of 19 to 20 years on the armed assault with intent to rob charge, and 4 to 5 years on the firearm charge. In 2025, he was granted medical parole. The second suspect was found guilty after a jury trial in Worcester Superior Court of all the indictments and sentenced to life in prison without parole on the murder indictment and concurrent terms of 18 to 20 years on the assault with intent to rob charge, and 3 to 5 years on the firearm charge. Sergeant Conley had served with the Milford Police Department for 30 years.

Survivors

He was survived by his three sons and five grandchildren.

In Our Keeping

Permanent identifier
BO-US-MA-4CF18BC1
Stewardship
Maintained by NeuraWeb Global Inc.
Added to badge.nw
April 2, 2026
Last updated
July 23, 2026

Honored here by 1 sentinel - 1 tribute.

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Tributes

30 years. You could have gone home.
Sergeant Conley gave the Milford Police Department 30 years. Still answering calls at the end.
Thank you for your service to the Milford community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Sergeant Conley.

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

Agency

Location Milford, MA
Platform Identity milfpd.worcester.ma.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch December 10, 1980
Tour of Duty 30 yrs
Age 61
Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious
Weapon Rifle; M-16
Offender Life w/out parole; granted parole

Sergeant Walter F. "Moose" Conley is one of 17,623 officers killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty across the full record of this memorial — 54.2% of all 32,508 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 11.8 percentage points below the national rate of 54.2%.

At Milford Police Department, 2 of 2 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 100% of this agency's fallen.

Milford Police Department
2
of 2 officers
100% Felonious
MA — Statewide
199
of 469 officers
42.4% Felonious
Nationwide
17,623
of 32,508 officers
54.2% Felonious

National Cause Distribution

How Felonious compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. Walter F. "Moose" Conley's cause is highlighted.

Felonious
17,623 (54.2%)
Accident
10,088 (31%)
Illness
2,974 (9.1%)
Cardiac
1,306 (4%)
Undetermined
260 (0.8%)
Suicide
256 (0.8%)
vehicular
1 (0%)

How Walter F. "Moose" Conley Compares

Age at End of Watch
61
This officer
Avg for Felonious: 39.0 years
Years of Service
30
This officer
Avg for Felonious: 8.5 years

Offender Outcome

Life w/out parole; granted parole

When Felonious Deaths Occur

Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. Walter F. "Moose" Conley is highlighted in Dec.

Jan
1,392
Feb
1,295
Mar
1,373
Apr
1,517
May
1,505
Jun
1,443
Jul
1,587
Aug
1,516
Sep
1,553
Oct
1,371
Nov
1,447
Dec
1,624

Weapons Used Against Officers

Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. Walter F. "Moose" Conley was killed by rifle; m-16.

Gun; Unknown type
5,083
Handgun
2,077
Shotgun
922
Officer's handgun
909
Automobile; Alcohol involved
530
Rifle
518

Others Who Wore This Badge

1 officer from Milford Police Department are honored on badge.nw.