Roll of Honor
Incident
Sergeant Richard Halloran was shot and killed while investigating a suspicious vehicle in the early morning hours in the area of Bremen Street and Neptune Road. Another officer found his body lying next to his patrol car. A suspect was apprehended after an investigation revealed he was the son of another officer. The man, 22, was arrested. On December 1, 1978, the suspect was sentenced to life in without parole. On July 30, 1984, he escaped from a New Hampshire prison for the third time. Each time he was captured within a few days. Sergeant Halloran, an Army veteran, had served with the Boston police department for five years and with the Medford police department for two years prior to that.
Survivors
He was survived by his wife and two sons who went on to become firefighters.
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
BO-US-MA-27CE27B7- 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.
Sergeant Halloran gave the Boston Police Department 7 years.
Thank you for your service to the Roxbury Crossing community, and for your service before it. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, brother.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
Military Service
Richard F. Halloran served in the United States military before joining law enforcement. Full service record available on salute.nw.
Sergeant Richard F. Halloran 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.
National Cause Distribution
How Felonious compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. Richard F. Halloran's cause is highlighted.
How Richard F. Halloran Compares
Offender Outcome
Sentenced to life
When Felonious Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. Richard F. Halloran is highlighted in Nov.
Weapons Used Against Officers
Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. Richard F. Halloran was killed by gun; unknown type.
Incident Location
Others Who Wore This Badge
105 officers from Boston Police Department are honored on badge.nw. Showing the 16 most recent.
