Walter A. Schroeder

Boston Police Department — Roxbury Crossing, MA

Felonious

End of Watch September 24, 1970

Age 42

Tour of Duty 19 yrs

Badge 1035

The Vigil Panel 107 ›

Gender Male

Incident Service The Sacrifice Department 105

Incident

Patrolman Walter Schroeder was shot and killed while responding to a silent alarm at a bank at 9:20 a.m. at the intersection of Western Avenue and Everett Street in Allston-Brighton. The bank was being robbed by five members of a gang of anti-Vietnam War activists. As he exited his cruiser and walked towards the bank, a gang member who was across the street opened fire on him with a rifle, striking him in the back several times. Patrolman Schroeder was taken to a local hospital where he succumbed to his injuries. Patrolman Schroeder's killer was the focus of the largest manhunt in New England's history. After stealing two cars and eluding police during two high-speed chases involving gunfire, he was captured. He was convicted of first-degree murder and sentenced to life in prison. He died in prison on September 10, 2011. Three of the other gang members were all sentenced to prison but most are now freed. The fifth gang member, a woman, evaded capture, changed her name and lived in Oregon for 23 years. Suffering from depression, she surrendered to police in 1993. She was convicted of manslaughter and sentenced to 8 to 12 years in prison. She was released in 1999. Patrolman Schroeder was survived by his parents and five siblings. Patrolman Schroeder's brother, Detective John Schroeder, was shot and killed while working for the same agency on Nov. 30, 1973. Patrolman Walter Schroeder had been employed with the Boston Police Department for 19 years and is survived by his wife and nine children. The Boston Police Department, located at One Schroeder Plaza, is named in honor of both brothers who were killed in the line of duty.

Survivors

Patrolman Schroeder was survived by his parents and five siblings. Patrolman Walter Schroeder had been employed with the Boston Police Department for 19 years and is survived by his wife and nine children.

In Our Keeping

Permanent identifier: BO-US-MA-F0DF2134
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 Schroeder 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 Schroeder.

— 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 September 24, 1970

Tour of Duty 19 yrs

Age 42

Badge Number 1035

Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious

Weapon Rifle; M-1

Offender Died in prison

Patrolman Walter A. Schroeder 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