Thomas J. Norton
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Inspector

Thomas J. Norton

Boston Police Department — Roxbury Crossing, MA
Felonious
End of Watch June 19, 1914
Age 49
Tour of Duty 17 yrs
Gender Male

Incident

Inspector Thomas Norton was shot and killed when he and four other officers attempted to arrest a triple murder suspect, who was wanted in Grand Rapids, Michigan. The incident occurred in a crowded restaurant located at the intersection of Boylston Street and Washington Street in Boston. The other officers returned fire, striking the suspect three times. The man continued to flee but was arrested outside of the restaurant by a mounted patrolman. A month later, the suspect killed himself inside his jail cell by cutting his throat with a steel shoe shank. Inspector Norton had served with the Boston Police Department for 17 years.

Survivors

He was survived by his wife and eight children.

In Our Keeping

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Added to badge.nw
August 2, 2026
Last updated
August 2, 2026

Honored here by 1 tribute.

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Tributes

I never knew you. I am standing here anyway.
Inspector Norton gave the Boston Police Department 17 years.
Thank you for your service to the Roxbury Crossing community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Inspector Norton.

— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993

Agency

Type Police Department
Location Roxbury Crossing, Suffolk County, MA
Platform Identity bpd.suffolk.ma.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch June 19, 1914
Tour of Duty 17 yrs
Age 49
Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious
Weapon Handgun

The Sacrifice · Felonious

Thomas is one of 15,742 officers killed feloniously in the United States, 57.1% of the 27,551 remembered there.

34,102 officers are remembered on this memorial. Each number below is one of them.

  1. See the roll
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Compare against
I

Time

In 1914, 127 officers in the United States were killed feloniously, the 37th heaviest of 213 years on record. The heaviest was 1921, with 248.

Every year on record · United States
II

Who

Thomas was 49. Of the 14,219 killed feloniously in the United States whose age is recorded, half were between 31 and 47; the middle age was 38. Thomas had served 17 years; the middle length of service was 6 years.

Age at death
Where he stood among them
Age by years of service
III

When

June holds 8.1% of these deaths in the United States; December holds the most, 9.4%. Fridays: 14.3%.

By month
By day of the week
IV

How

Felonious deaths account for 57.1% of all 27,551 deaths in the United States, the most common cause. The weapon recorded was handgun, in 23.4% of these deaths.

Every cause
Weapons recorded
V

His people

Boston Police Department has 106 officers remembered here, Thomas among them.

Across the years
VI

Where

Inspector Thomas J. Norton

Boston Police Department · End of Watch June 19, 1914

Where the Name Is Cut

National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial · Panel 61-W

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