William F. Healey

Boston Police Department — Roxbury Crossing, MA

Felonious

End of Watch October 2, 1946

Age 46

Tour of Duty 18 yrs

The Vigil Panel 82 ›

Gender Male

Incident Service The Sacrifice Department 105

Incident

Sergeant William Healey was shot and killed when he confronted two men who were burglarizing an apartment. Two men came home and surprised two burglars inside. While one wrestled with the burglars the other man ran into the street shouting for police. Sergeant Healey responded and as he entered the front door one of the suspects shot him twice. The suspect who shot him, age 20, accidentally shot himself in the foot as they made their escape. With information provided by two taxi drivers, the suspects were taken into custody at their homes. Both men were convicted of Sergeant Healey's murder and sentenced to life. Sergeant Healey's killer was paroled on June 3, 1967. The second suspect, 23, was one of the ring leaders in the Charlestown Prison riot in 1955, in which four guards were held hostage for three days. He and the other inmates were never punished for the riot after the Governor declared the prison unfit for human habitation and had it closed. All prisoners were transferred to Walpole Prison. He was paroled on December 7, 1967. In 1974 he was arrested in Dorchester for the armed robbery of a variety store, and returned to prison. He was convicted of the robbery in 1976 and sentenced to 20 years. Sergeant Healey had served with the Boston Police Department for 18 years.

Survivors

He was survived by his wife and two children.

In Our Keeping

Permanent identifier: BO-US-MA-BD4E83B8
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.
Sergeant Healey gave the Boston Police Department 18 years.
Thank you for your service to the Roxbury Crossing community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Sergeant Healey.

— 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 October 2, 1946

Tour of Duty 18 yrs

Age 46

Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious

Weapon Handgun; .32 caliber

Offender Paroled in 1967

Sergeant William F. Healey is one of 17,623 officers killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty across the full record of this memorial — 54.2% of all 32,508 officers honored here.

In MA, 199 of 469 officers were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 42.4% of this state's fallen. That is 11.8 percentage points below the national rate of 54.2%.

At Boston Police Department, 45 of 106 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 42.5% of this agency's fallen.

Boston Police Department

of 106 officers

42.5% Felonious

MA — Statewide

199

of 469 officers

42.4% Felonious

Nationwide

17,623

of 32,508 officers

54.2% Felonious