Roll of Honor
Incident
Police Officer Paul Tracey was struck and killed by a vehicle while he was working a construction detail near 158 Totten Pond Road in Waltham.
The subject was driving east on Totten Pond Road at 4:15 p.m. when he attempted to make a U-turn and collided with another vehicle. He drove away from the crash and struck Officer Tracey and three National Grid utility workers about a quarter mile from the initial collision. The subject continued driving, and when he struck two additional vehicles, he fled on foot, brandished a knife, and then stole a police cruiser. He was apprehended after a foot pursuit.
Officer Tracey and one of the utility workers died from their injuries. Two other utility workers were transported to the hospital.
The subject was charged with failure to stop for police, negligent operation of a motor vehicle, larceny of a motor vehicle, armed robbery, assault with a dangerous weapon, two counts of manslaughter, and leaving the scene of an accident after causing personal injury and death.
Officer Tracey had served with the Waltham Police Department for 28 years.
Survivors
He is survived by his wife, who is also a law enforcement officer, and two children.
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
BO-US-MA-68CA1980- 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
28 years. You could have gone home.
Police Officer Tracey gave the Waltham Police Department 28 years. Still answering calls at the end.
Thank you for your service to the Waltham community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Police Officer Tracey.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
Police Officer Paul Tracey 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%.
National Cause Distribution
How Felonious compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. Paul Tracey's cause is highlighted.
How Paul Tracey Compares
Offender Outcome
In custody
When Felonious Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. Paul Tracey is highlighted in Dec.
Weapons Used Against Officers
Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. Paul Tracey was killed by automobile.