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John Franklin Montague
Agency patch
Sergeant

John Franklin Montague

Boston Police Department — Roxbury Crossing, MA
Illness
United States flag Massachusetts flag
End of Watch May 24, 1929
Age 50
Tour of Duty 24 yrs 1 mo
The Vigil Panel 129 ›
Gender Male
Incident Media Service The Sacrifice Memorials 1 Department 105

Incident

Sergeant John Montague died as a result of a pulmonary embolism as a result of taking a promotional physical fitness test at the Massachusetts State House.

When he returned to his station after completing the test he complained to his supervisor that he had felt "a snap in his back." While at his home the next day he suffered a fatal heart caused by a pulmonary embolism.

A special investigation was introduced by the Massachusetts State Senate to investigate the Civil Service Commission due to Sergeant Montague's death and the injuries of five other Boston police officers who took the same test. It was determined that Sergeant Montague's death was caused by the physical test.

Sergeant Montague had served with the Boston Police Department for more than 24 years and was assigned to Division 4.

Survivors

He was survived by his wife, and three children.

In Our Keeping

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August 2, 2026
Last updated
August 2, 2026

Honored here by 1 tribute.

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Tributes

24 years. You could have gone home.
Sergeant Montague gave the Boston Police Department 24 years. Still answering calls at the end.
Thank you for your service to the Roxbury Crossing community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Sergeant Montague.

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

Agency

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

Service Record

End of Watch May 24, 1929
Tour of Duty 24 yrs 1 mo
Age 50
Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Illness

The Sacrifice · Illness

John is one of 2,028 officers lost to illness in the United States, 7.4% of the 27,551 remembered there.

34,117 officers are remembered on this memorial. Each number below is one of them.

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Compare against
I

Time

In 1929, 3 officers in the United States were lost to illness, the 33rd heaviest of 108 years on record. The heaviest was 2021, with 564.

Every year on record · United States
II

Who

John was 50. Of the 1,996 lost to illness in the United States whose age is recorded, half were between 42 and 58; the middle age was 51. John had served 24.1 years; the middle length of service was 20 years.

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

When

May holds 6.2% of these deaths in the United States; October holds the most, 14.9%. Fridays: 14.8%.

By month
By day of the week
IV

How

Illness deaths account for 7.4% of all 27,551 deaths in the United States, the 3rd most common cause.

Every cause
Weapons recorded
V

His people

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

Across the years
VI

Where

Sergeant John Franklin Montague

Boston Police Department · End of Watch May 24, 1929

Where the Name Is Cut

National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial · Panel 37-W

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