Roll of Honor
Incident
Patrolman Kenneth Bell was killed in a motorcycle crash while providing a motorcycle escort for Edward Kennedy, who was campaigning for the United States Senate. A vehicle pulled into the path of Patrolman Bell's three-wheeled motorcycle at the intersection of Water Street and Wanoosnoc Road, causing him to suffer fatal injuries. Patrolman Bell was a U.S. Army veteran of WWII and a recipient of the Purple Heart. He had served with the Fitchburg Police Department for almost eight years.
Survivors
He was survived by his wife, three sons, three sisters, and four brothers.
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
BO-US-MA-9B26217F- 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 served 1985 to 1993. You served too, before the badge - different uniform, same idea. You go where you are sent and you do not get to pick the call.
Patrolman Bell gave the Fitchburg Police Department 7 years.
Thank you for your service to the Fitchburg community, and for your service before it. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, brother.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
Military Service
Kenneth B. Bell served in the United States military before joining law enforcement. Full service record available on salute.nw.
Patrolman Kenneth B. Bell 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 Fitchburg Police Department, 2 of 2 officers on record were lost to accidents in the line of duty — 100% of this agency's fallen.
National Cause Distribution
How Accident compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. Kenneth B. Bell's cause is highlighted.
How Kenneth B. Bell Compares
When Accident Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Accident deaths across the full memorial record. Kenneth B. Bell is highlighted in Oct.
Incident Location
Others Who Wore This Badge
1 officer from Fitchburg Police Department are honored on badge.nw.
