John J. Mehegan

Boston Police Department — Roxbury Crossing, MA

Cardiac

End of Watch January 11, 1950

Age 46

Tour of Duty 19 yrs

The Vigil Panel 86 ›

Gender Male

Incident Service The Sacrifice Department 105

Incident

Patrolman John Mehegan suffered a fatal heart attack as a result of injuries he received while on duty.

After his death, his widow received an annuity for injuries from an accident occurring during the performance and within the scope of his duty. He first reported a headache and pains in his chest on September 2, 1949, and suffered bronchitis and hypertension from November 1949 until his death on January 11, 1950.

Patrolman Mehegan had served with the Boston Police Department for 19 years, assigned to Division 16, which was located at 955 Boylston Street.

Survivors

He was survived by his wife and three children.

In Our Keeping

Permanent identifier: BO-US-MA-82FAC037
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 Mehegan gave the Boston Police Department 19 years.
Thank you for your service to the Roxbury Crossing community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Patrolman Mehegan.

— 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 January 11, 1950

Tour of Duty 19 yrs

Age 46

Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Cardiac

Cause Detail Heart attack

Patrolman John J. Mehegan is one of 1,306 officers lost to cardiac events in the line of duty across the full record of this memorial — 4% of all 32,508 officers honored here.

In MA, 44 of 469 officers were lost to cardiac events in the line of duty — 9.4% of this state's fallen. That is 5.4 percentage points above the national rate of 4%.

At Boston Police Department, 8 of 106 officers on record were lost to cardiac events in the line of duty — 7.5% of this agency's fallen.

Boston Police Department

of 106 officers

7.5% Cardiac

MA — Statewide

of 469 officers

9.4% Cardiac

Nationwide

1,306

of 32,508 officers

4% Cardiac