Walter R. Doucette

Massachusetts Department of Correction — Milford, MA

Felonious

End of Watch December 24, 1935

Age 43

Tour of Duty 6 yrs

The Vigil Panel 71 ›

Gender Male

Incident Service The Sacrifice Department 14

Incident

Prison Guard Walter Doucette was shot and killed with his own weapon while transporting two prisoners, 24 and 25, back to the prison in a taxi after their court appearance in the Dedham Superior Court. Guard Doucette was transported to City Hospital where he succumbed to his wounds. Both prisoners were apprehended 10 days later; one in Malden and the other in Providence, Rhode Island. Both blamed the other for the shooting. Both had been convicted of burglary six months earlier and sentenced to 12 years each. At the suspect's trial, the cab driver testified he was driving near Battery and Commercial Streets just after it had gotten dark when he saw the prisoners attack Guard Doucette in the back seat. He stopped at a nearby gas station and ran for help. He said he then saw Guard Doucette chase the prisoners to the back of the station, heard several gun shots, and then watched as the prisoners returned and stole his taxi. He then ran behind the station where he found Guard Doucette sitting on a loading dock, badly wounded. Both were convicted of murder and got a life sentence added to their terms. On June 8, 1936, one was transferred to the Bridgewater Insane Asylum where he died in 1962. The other was pardoned by Governor John A. Volpe on December 24, 1962. Guard Doucette had served with the Massachusetts Department of Corrections for six years.

Survivors

He was survived by his wife and six children.

In Our Keeping

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Added to badge.nw: April 2, 2026
Last updated: July 23, 2026

Honored here by 1 sentinel - 1 tribute.

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Tributes

I never knew you. I am standing here anyway.
Prison Guard Doucette gave the Massachusetts Department of Correction 6 years.
Thank you for your service to the Milford community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Prison Guard Doucette.

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

Agency

Department Massachusetts Department of Correction

Location Milford, MA

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

Service Record

End of Watch December 24, 1935

Tour of Duty 6 yrs

Age 43

Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious

Weapon Officer's handgun

Offender Sentenced to life

Prison Guard Walter R. Doucette 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 Massachusetts Department of Correction, 13 of 15 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 86.7% of this agency's fallen.

Massachusetts Department of Correction

of 15 officers

86.7% Felonious

MA — Statewide

199

of 469 officers

42.4% Felonious

Nationwide

17,623

of 32,508 officers

54.2% Felonious