Alfred J. Baranowski
Agency patch
Corrections Officer

Alfred J. Baranowski

Felonious Veteran
End of Watch July 31, 1972
Age 54
Tour of Duty 20 yrs
The Vigil Panel 110 ›
Gender Male

Incident

Corrections Officer Alfred Baranowski and Corrections Officer James Souzawere shot and killed during an escape attempt from the Norfolk Prison. The inmate's wife had smuggled the gun into the prison for him. The inmate then shot and killed his wife and attempted to escape. Officers Souza and Baranowski were killed as the inmate attempted to escape. When the inmate was unable to escape, he shot and killed himself. A prison was named in honor of Officer Baranowski and Officer Souza. Officer Baranowski was a U.S. Army Air Forces veteran of WWII and had served with the Massachusetts Department of Correction for 20 years.

Survivors

He was survived by his wife and five children.

In Our Keeping

Permanent identifier
BO-US-MA-4D10E9EA
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.
Corrections Officer Baranowski gave the Massachusetts Department of Correction 20 years.
Thank you for your service to the Milford 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

Location Milford, MA
Platform Identity mdc.worcester.ma.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch July 31, 1972
Tour of Duty 20 yrs
Age 54
Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious
Weapon Handgun
Offender Committed suicide

Military Service

Alfred J. Baranowski served in the United States military before joining law enforcement. Full service record available on salute.nw.

Corrections Officer Alfred J. Baranowski 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 Massachusetts Department of Correction, 13 of 15 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 86.7% of this agency's fallen.

Massachusetts Department of Correction
13
of 15 officers
86.7% Felonious
MA — Statewide
199
of 469 officers
42.4% Felonious
Nationwide
17,623
of 32,508 officers
54.2% Felonious

National Cause Distribution

How Felonious compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. Alfred J. Baranowski's cause is highlighted.

Felonious
17,623 (54.2%)
Accident
10,088 (31%)
Illness
2,974 (9.1%)
Cardiac
1,306 (4%)
Undetermined
260 (0.8%)
Suicide
256 (0.8%)
vehicular
1 (0%)

How Alfred J. Baranowski Compares

Age at End of Watch
54
This officer
Avg for Felonious: 39.0 years
Years of Service
20
This officer
Avg for Felonious: 8.5 years

Offender Outcome

Committed suicide

When Felonious Deaths Occur

Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. Alfred J. Baranowski is highlighted in Jul.

Jan
1,392
Feb
1,295
Mar
1,373
Apr
1,517
May
1,505
Jun
1,443
Jul
1,587
Aug
1,516
Sep
1,553
Oct
1,371
Nov
1,447
Dec
1,624

Weapons Used Against Officers

Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. Alfred J. Baranowski was killed by handgun.

Gun; Unknown type
5,083
Handgun
2,077
Shotgun
922
Officer's handgun
909
Automobile; Alcohol involved
530
Rifle
518

Incident Location