Augustine J. Belmonte

Saugus Police Dept. — Saugus, MA

Felonious Veteran

End of Watch February 16, 1969

Age 44

Tour of Duty 8 yrs

The Vigil Panel 105 ›

Gender Male

Incident Service The Sacrifice Department 3

Incident

Officer Gus Belmonte was shot and killed, and Patrolman Frederick Forni was seriously wounded in a gun battle with three armed robbery suspects at 11:15 pm. Police received a tip that the Red Coach Grill on Route 1 was going to be robbed. A gun battle resulted when the robbers ran out the back door and found five officers waiting. One suspect was shot and killed, and the other two were taken into custody. Officer Belmonte had the night off but was working overtime for another officer who was injured. He was shot and killed at the scene. Patrolman Forni was shot in the chest and succumbed to his wounds on August 15, 2021. One suspect, 24, was found guilty of first-degree murder and sentenced to life on October 10, 1969. He was paroled on August 3, 1983. The other suspect, 25, was acquitted. Officer Belmonte was a United States Marine Corps WWII veteran and had served with the Saugus Police Department for eight years.

Survivors

He is survived by his wife and two sons.

In Our Keeping

Permanent identifier: BO-US-MA-F779C8D1
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.
Police Officer Belmonte gave the Saugus Police Department 8 years.
Thank you for your service to the Saugus 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

Department Saugus Police Dept.

Location Saugus, MA

Platform Identity saugpd.essex.ma.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch February 16, 1969

Tour of Duty 8 yrs

Age 44

Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious

Weapon Gun; Unknown type

Offender One shot and killed & one sentenced to l

Military Service

Augustine J. Belmonte served in the United States military before joining law enforcement. Full service record available on salute.nw.

Police Officer Augustine J. Belmonte 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 Saugus Police Dept., 4 of 4 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 100% of this agency's fallen.

Saugus Police Dept.

of 4 officers

100% Felonious

MA — Statewide

199

of 469 officers

42.4% Felonious

Nationwide

17,623

of 32,508 officers

54.2% Felonious