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Patrolman

Frederick Louis Forni

Saugus Police Dept. — Saugus, MA

Felonious Veteran

End of Watch August 15, 2021

Age 82

Tour of Duty 11 yrs

The Vigil Panel 176 ›

Gender Male

Incident Service The Sacrifice Department 3

Incident

Patrolman Frederick Forni succumbed to gunshot wounds he received on February 16, 1969, when he and Officer Augustine Belmonte engaged in a gun battle with three armed robbery suspects at 11:15 pm.

Police received a tip that the Red Coach Grill on Route 1 would be robbed. A gun battle resulted when the robbers ran out the back door and found five officers waiting. One suspect was shot and killed, and the other two were taken into custody.

One suspect, 24, was found guilty of first-degree murder and sentenced to life on October 10, 1969. He was paroled on August 3, 1983. The other suspect, 25, was acquitted.

Officer Belmonte was shot and killed at the scene. Patrolman Forni, who volunteered for the stakeout, was shot in the chest and transported to Massachusetts General Hospital. He died from complications of his gunshot wound 52 years later.

Patrolman Forni was a United States Army veteran and had served with the Saugus Police Department for 11 years. His father was the Chief of Police when he was shot. He is survived by his wife, two daughters, and two sons. Both of his sons are law enforcement officers.

Survivors

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

In Our Keeping

Permanent identifier: BO-US-MA-018FED89
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

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.
Patrolman Forni gave the Saugus Police Department 11 years.
Thank you for your service to the Saugus community. Thank you for your service before it. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, brother.

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

Agency

Department Saugus Police Dept.

Location Saugus, MA

Platform Identity saugpd.essex.ma.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch August 15, 2021

Tour of Duty 11 yrs

Age 82

Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious

Weapon Gun; Unknown type

Offender Shot and killed & one sentenced to life

Military Service

Frederick Louis Forni served in the United States military before joining law enforcement. Full service record available on salute.nw.

Patrolman Frederick Louis Forni 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 Saugus Police Dept., 4 of 4 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 100% of this agency's fallen.

Saugus Police Dept.

of 4 officers

100% Felonious

MA — Statewide

199

of 469 officers

42.4% Felonious

Nationwide

17,623

of 32,508 officers

54.2% Felonious