Paul F. Mawaka

Springfield Police Department — Springfield, MA

Accident

End of Watch October 30, 1973

Age 34

Tour of Duty 9 yrs

Badge 158

The Vigil Panel 112 ›

Gender Male

Incident Service The Sacrifice Department 18

Incident

Police Officer Paul Mawaka was killed in a motorcycle crash while on duty. He was struck by a hit-and-run driver while returning to the station at the end of his shift. The driver was never found. Officer Mawaka had served with the Springfield Police Department for 9 years.

Survivors

He was survived by his wife, Claire, and three daughters, Laura, Wendy and Kimberly.

In Our Keeping

Permanent identifier: BO-US-MA-835C024D
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.
Police Officer Mawaka gave the Springfield Police Department 9 years.
Thank you for your service to the Springfield community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Police Officer Mawaka.

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

Agency

Department Springfield Police Department

Location Springfield, MA

Platform Identity spd.hampden.ma.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch October 30, 1973

Tour of Duty 9 yrs

Age 34

Badge Number 158

Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Accident

Police Officer Paul F. Mawaka 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 Springfield Police Department, 7 of 19 officers on record were lost to accidents in the line of duty — 36.8% of this agency's fallen.

Springfield Police Department

of 19 officers

36.8% Accident

MA — Statewide

158

of 469 officers

33.7% Accident

Nationwide

10,088

of 32,508 officers

31% Accident