Roll of Honor
Incident
Sergeant Ernest DeCross and Lieutenant Gregory Principe were killed in a vehicle crash while pursuing a vehicle being driven by a 16-year-old juvenile. Their vehicle left the roadway and struck a tree near the intersection of Middle Street and Arnold Street. The juvenile was arrested and charged with two counts of manslaughter. Sergeant DeCross had served with the Braintree Police Department for 12 years.
Survivors
He is survived by his wife, two daughters, father, and mother.
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
BO-US-MA-F4081F4C- Stewardship
- Maintained by NeuraWeb Global Inc.
- Added to badge.nw
- August 2, 2026
- Last updated
- August 2, 2026
Honored here by 1 sentinel - 1 tribute.
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Tributes
I never knew you. I am standing here anyway.
Sergeant DeCross gave the Braintree Police Department 12 years.
Thank you for your service to the Braintree community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Sergeant DeCross.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
Sergeant Ernest James DeCross is one of 10,094 officers lost to accidents in the line of duty across the full record of this memorial — 31% of all 32,586 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 Braintree 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. Ernest James DeCross's cause is highlighted.
How Ernest James DeCross Compares
When Accident Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Accident deaths across the full memorial record. Ernest James DeCross is highlighted in Mar.
Incident Location
Others Who Wore This Badge
1 officer from Braintree Police Department are honored on badge.nw.
