Thomas J. Norton

Boston Police Department — Roxbury Crossing, MA

Felonious

End of Watch June 19, 1914

Age 49

Tour of Duty 17 yrs

The Vigil Panel 28 ›

Gender Male

Incident Service The Sacrifice Department 105

Incident

Inspector Thomas Norton was shot and killed when he and four other officers attempted to arrest a triple murder suspect, who was wanted in Grand Rapids, Michigan. The incident occurred in a crowded restaurant located at the intersection of Boylston Street and Washington Street in Boston. The other officers returned fire, striking the suspect three times. The man continued to flee but was arrested outside of the restaurant by a mounted patrolman. A month later, the suspect killed himself inside his jail cell by cutting his throat with a steel shoe shank. Inspector Norton had served with the Boston Police Department for 17 years.

Survivors

He was survived by his wife and eight children.

In Our Keeping

Permanent identifier: BO-US-MA-24073479
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 never knew you. I am standing here anyway.
Inspector Norton gave the Boston Police Department 17 years.
Thank you for your service to the Roxbury Crossing community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Inspector Norton.

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

Agency

Department Boston Police Department

Location Roxbury Crossing, MA

Platform Identity bpd.suffolk.ma.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch June 19, 1914

Tour of Duty 17 yrs

Age 49

Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious

Weapon Handgun; .32 caliber

Offender Committed suicide

Inspector Thomas J. Norton 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 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.

Boston Police Department

of 106 officers

42.5% Felonious

MA — Statewide

199

of 469 officers

42.4% Felonious

Nationwide

17,623

of 32,508 officers

54.2% Felonious