James Welch

Holyoke Police Dept. — Holyoke, MA

Illness

End of Watch December 20, 1918

Age 36

Tour of Duty 11 yrs 11 mo

The Vigil Panel 36 ›

Gender Male

Incident Service The Sacrifice Department 5

Incident

Patrolman James Welch died as a result of complications from influenza while performing his assigned duties during the Influenza Pandemic.

The Holyoke Police Department had been tasked with enforcing local health laws to help prevent the spread of influenza, as well as performing their regular police duties.

Patrolman Welch served with the Holyoke Police Department for almost 12 years.

Survivors

He was survived by his parents and siblings.

In Our Keeping

Permanent identifier: BO-US-MA-84CAF8EB
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 Welch gave the Holyoke Police Department 11 years.
Thank you for your service to the Holyoke community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Patrolman Welch.

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

Agency

Department Holyoke Police Dept.

Location Holyoke, MA

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

Service Record

End of Watch December 20, 1918

Tour of Duty 11 yrs 11 mo

Age 36

Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Illness

Patrolman James Welch is one of 2,974 officers lost to illness connected to their service across the full record of this memorial — 9.1% of all 32,508 officers honored here.

In MA, 59 of 469 officers were lost to illness connected to their service — 12.6% of this state's fallen. That is 3.5 percentage points above the national rate of 9.1%.

At Holyoke Police Dept., 1 of 6 officers on record were lost to illness connected to their service — 16.7% of this agency's fallen.

Holyoke Police Dept.

of 6 officers

16.7% Illness

MA — Statewide

of 469 officers

12.6% Illness

Nationwide

2,974

of 32,508 officers

9.1% Illness