Roll of Honor
Incident
Sergeant William Healey was shot and killed when he confronted two men who were burglarizing an apartment. Two men came home and surprised two burglars inside. While one wrestled with the burglars the other man ran into the street shouting for police. Sergeant Healey responded and as he entered the front door one of the suspects shot him twice. The suspect who shot him, age 20, accidentally shot himself in the foot as they made their escape. With information provided by two taxi drivers, the suspects were taken into custody at their homes. Both men were convicted of Sergeant Healey's murder and sentenced to life. Sergeant Healey's killer was paroled on June 3, 1967. The second suspect, 23, was one of the ring leaders in the Charlestown Prison riot in 1955, in which four guards were held hostage for three days. He and the other inmates were never punished for the riot after the Governor declared the prison unfit for human habitation and had it closed. All prisoners were transferred to Walpole Prison. He was paroled on December 7, 1967. In 1974 he was arrested in Dorchester for the armed robbery of a variety store, and returned to prison. He was convicted of the robbery in 1976 and sentenced to 20 years. Sergeant Healey had served with the Boston Police Department for 18 years.
Survivors
He was survived by his wife and two children.
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
BO-US-MA-BD4E83B8- Stewardship
- Maintained by NeuraWeb Global Inc.
- Added to badge.nw
- August 2, 2026
- Last updated
- August 2, 2026
Honored here by 1 tribute.
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Tributes
I never knew you. I am standing here anyway.
Sergeant Healey gave the Boston Police Department 18 years.
Thank you for your service to the Roxbury Crossing community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Sergeant Healey.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
Sergeant William F. Healey 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 97,772 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 Boston Police Department, 45 of 106 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 42.5% of this agency's fallen.
National Cause Distribution
How Felonious compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. William F. Healey's cause is highlighted.
How William F. Healey Compares
When Felonious Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. William F. Healey is highlighted in Oct.
Weapons Used Against Officers
Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. William F. Healey was killed by handgun.
Others Who Wore This Badge
105 officers from Boston Police Department are honored on badge.nw. Showing the 16 most recent.
