Roll of Honor

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Officer

Edward C. Callahan

Malden Police Department — Malden, MA

Felonious Veteran

End of Watch September 16, 1963

Age 36

Tour of Duty 10 yrs

Badge 57

The Vigil Panel 98 ›

Gender Male

Incident Service The Sacrifice Department 3

Incident

Officer Edward Callahan was shot and killed, and his partner was seriously wounded while responding to a robbery at a market on the corner of Pleasant and Pearl Streets. The shooter was apprehended in Maine several days later. He was convicted of first-degree murder and sentenced to death. In 1971, his sentence was commuted to life. He became one of Massachusetts' most notorious prisoners, assaulting guards, starting riots, and sexually assaulting other inmates. He died in prison on August 4, 2014. Officer Callahan was a United States Navy World War II veteran and had served with the Malden Police Department for ten years. He was survived by his wife and two children. His father became a Malden Police Officer shortly after coming from Ireland in 1900. His son later became a Malden police officer and proudly wore his father's badge. When he died from cancer at age 33 in 1992, the city was devastated, and the badge was permanently retired. In 2013, his son's nephew became a Malden Police Officer.

Survivors

He was survived by his wife and two children.

In Our Keeping

Permanent identifier: BO-US-MA-37D519C0
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.
Officer Callahan gave the Malden Police Department 10 years.
Thank you for your service to the Malden 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

Department Malden Police Department

Location Malden, MA

Platform Identity maldpd.middlesex.ma.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch September 16, 1963

Tour of Duty 10 yrs

Age 36

Badge Number 57

Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious

Weapon Gun; Unknown type

Offender Commuted to life

Military Service

Edward C. Callahan served in the United States military before joining law enforcement. Full service record available on salute.nw.

Officer Edward C. Callahan 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 Malden Police Department, 4 of 4 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 100% of this agency's fallen.

Malden Police Department

of 4 officers

100% Felonious

MA — Statewide

199

of 469 officers

42.4% Felonious

Nationwide

17,623

of 32,508 officers

54.2% Felonious