John James McKenzie

Chelsea Police Dept. — Chelsea, MA

Accident

End of Watch October 13, 1924

Age 52

Tour of Duty 18 yrs

The Vigil Panel 48 ›

Gender Male

Incident Service The Sacrifice Department 6

Incident

Patrolman John McKenzie succumbed to injuries he received when he was struck in a hit-and-run while directing traffic at Broadway and Eleanor Street in Chelsea. On August 6, 1924, Patrolman McKezie was directing traffic when a driver failed to stop at the intersection, hitting him and another officer. The driver kept driving and abandoned his car on Shurtleff Street. Patrolman McKenzie was transported to Chelsea Memorial Hospital with severe head lacerations. He passed away from his injuries two months later. The driver was sentenced to one year for leaving the scene of a crash and was fined $150 for failing to stop at the intersection, operating an automobile dangerously, and leaving the scene of an accident. Patrolman McKenzie had served with the Chelsea Police Department for 18 years.

Survivors

He was survived by his wife, five sons, and two daughters.

In Our Keeping

Permanent identifier: BO-US-MA-6F500162
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 never knew you. I am standing here anyway.
Patrolman McKenzie gave the Chelsea Police Department 18 years.
Thank you for your service to the Chelsea community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Patrolman McKenzie.

— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993

Agency

Department Chelsea Police Dept.

Location Chelsea, MA

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

Service Record

End of Watch October 13, 1924

Tour of Duty 18 yrs

Age 52

Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Accident

Weapon Not available

Offender Sentenced to one year

Patrolman John James McKenzie is one of 10,088 officers lost to accidents in the line of duty across the full record of this memorial — 31% of all 32,508 officers honored here.

In MA, 158 of 469 officers were lost to accidents in the line of duty — 33.7% of this state's fallen. That is 2.7 percentage points above the national rate of 31%.

At Chelsea Police Dept., 3 of 7 officers on record were lost to accidents in the line of duty — 42.9% of this agency's fallen.

Chelsea Police Dept.

of 7 officers

42.9% Accident

MA — Statewide

158

of 469 officers

33.7% Accident

Nationwide

10,088

of 32,508 officers

31% Accident