Walter Hird

Methuen Police Department — Methuen, MA

Felonious Veteran

End of Watch December 12, 1966

Age 46

Tour of Duty 19 yrs

The Vigil Panel 102 ›

Gender Male

Incident Service The Sacrifice Department 4

Incident

Patrolman Hird died in a local hospital from injuries he received during a scuffle with a man he was trying to arrest for drunkenness in a local bar. Patrolman Hird had served with the agency for 19 years. He was survived by his wife. He was a World War II Navy veteran of the South Pacific.

Survivors

He was survived by his wife.

In Our Keeping

Permanent identifier: BO-US-MA-58C7A597
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.

Are you family? This record can be claimed and maintained by those who knew Walter. Claim this record.

This page is permanent and free. No fee to view it, no advertising, no tracking, and no account required. It will not be taken down.

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 Hird gave the Methuen Police Department 19 years.
Thank you for your service to the Methuen 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 Methuen Police Department

Location Methuen, MA

Platform Identity methpd.essex.ma.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch December 12, 1966

Tour of Duty 19 yrs

Age 46

Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious

Weapon Person

Offender Not available

Military Service

Walter Hird served in the United States military before joining law enforcement. Full service record available on salute.nw.

Patrolman Walter Hird 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 Methuen Police Department, 4 of 5 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 80% of this agency's fallen.

Methuen Police Department

of 5 officers

80% Felonious

MA — Statewide

199

of 469 officers

42.4% Felonious

Nationwide

17,623

of 32,508 officers

54.2% Felonious