Wilfred Gerrior

Massachusetts Department of Correction — Milford, MA

Felonious

End of Watch February 13, 1928

Age 46

The Vigil Panel 54 ›

Gender Male

Incident Service The Sacrifice Department 14

Incident

Night Watchman Gerrior and Night Supervisor Amlaw were beaten to death at the State Hospital for the Criminally Insane in Bridgewater, Massachusetts, by an inmate known to be the most vicious of all the other inmates. He was admitted to Bridgewater Hospital in 1914 after he was transferred from the state prison where he was serving a 10 year sentence for breaking, entering, and larceny. He broke a post from the foot of his bed, shaped it into a bat and laid in wait.

Watchman Gerrior was making his rounds when he encountered the inmate standing in the open doorway of his cell. No one could ever figure out how he unlocked his cell door. He used the bat to beat Watchman Gerrior to death. He then walked down a corridor, met Supervisor Amlaw, and beat him to death the same way. He then used keys he took to liberate four inmates from their cells. As they walked towards an exit they met several guards who sounded the alarm, overpowered them, and returned them to their cells.

A criminally insane inmate who kills can not be held responsible for his actions. He died at Bridgewater Hospital in 1943.

Watchman Gerrior was survived by his wife, daughter, and three sons.

Survivors

Watchman Gerrior was survived by his wife, daughter, and three sons.

In Our Keeping

Permanent identifier: BO-US-MA-F8E74EAD
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.

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

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 never knew you. I am standing here anyway.
Night Watchman Gerrior served with the Massachusetts Department of Correction.
Thank you for your service to the Milford community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Night Watchman Gerrior.

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

Agency

Department Massachusetts Department of Correction

Type Corrections

Location Milford, MA

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

Service Record

End of Watch February 13, 1928

Age 46

Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious

Cause Detail Assault

Weapon Blunt object; Bat

Night Watchman Wilfred Gerrior 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 32,586 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%.

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

17,559

of 32,586 officers

53.9% Felonious