Roll of Honor

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Patrolman

James B. O'Leary

Boston Police Department — Roxbury Crossing, MA

Felonious Veteran

End of Watch August 2, 1963

Age 46

Tour of Duty 16 yrs

Badge 1618

The Vigil Panel 98 ›

Gender Male

Incident Service The Sacrifice Department 105

Incident

Patrolman James O'Leary was shot and killed while chasing several suspects who had just robbed a liquor store at 9 pm. He had been assigned to a detail to observe the suspects when they robbed a store at the intersection of Boylston Street and Graves Street. Patrolman O'Leary commandeered a vehicle and chased the suspects to the intersection of Commonwealth Avenue and Fairfield Street, where he was shot by one of the men. Patrolman O'Leary was transported to Massachusetts General Hospital where he succumbed to his gunshot while in surgery. Two suspects, ages 29 and 31, were arrested and convicted of first-degree murder. The gunman, sentenced to death, later had his sentence commuted to life. On August 30, 1984, his request for parole was approved but blocked by Governor Michael S Dukakis. The other suspect was sentenced to life. Patrolman O'Leary was a United States Army WW II veteran and had served with the Boston Police Department for 16 years. He was survived by his wife and three children. The bridge that carries Boylston Street over the Massachusetts Turnpike was renamed the Patrolman James B. O'Leary Bridge.

Survivors

He was survived by his wife and three children.

In Our Keeping

Permanent identifier: BO-US-MA-452B175E
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 O'Leary gave the Boston Police Department 16 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

Department Boston Police Department

Location Roxbury Crossing, MA

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

Service Record

End of Watch August 2, 1963

Tour of Duty 16 yrs

Age 46

Badge Number 1618

Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious

Weapon Gun; Unknown type

Offender Sentenced to life

Military Service

James B. O'Leary served in the United States military before joining law enforcement. Full service record available on salute.nw.

Patrolman James B. O'Leary 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