John J. Earle
Agency patch
Patrolman

John J. Earle

Boston Police Department — Roxbury Crossing, MA
Accident
End of Watch October 21, 1916
Age 34
Tour of Duty 4 yrs
The Vigil Panel 31 ›
Gender Male

Incident

Patrolman John Earle succumbed to injuries sustained the previous day when he was crushed between two trolley cars the intersection of Boylston Street and Washington Street.

The inbound trolley failed to make the switch properly and struck the outbound trolley, causing the crash.

Patrolman Earle had served with the Boston Police Department for four years.

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.
Patrolman Earle gave the Boston Police Department 4 years.
Thank you for your service to the Roxbury Crossing community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Patrolman Earle.

— 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 October 21, 1916
Tour of Duty 4 yrs
Age 34
Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Accident

The Sacrifice · Accident

John is one of 8,275 officers lost to accidents in the United States, 30% of the 27,551 remembered there.

33,917 officers are remembered on this memorial. Each number below is one of them.

  1. See the roll
  2. See the roll
Compare against
I

Time

In 1916, 48 officers in the United States were lost to accidents, the 99th heaviest of 174 years on record. The heaviest was 1929, with 118.

Every year on record · United States
II

Who

John was 34. Of the 7,718 lost to accidents in the United States whose age is recorded, half were between 29 and 46; the middle age was 36. John had served 4 years; the middle length of service was 6 years.

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

When

October holds 9.1% of these deaths in the United States; August holds the most, 9.5%. Saturdays: 14.9%.

By month
By day of the week
IV

How

Accident deaths account for 30% of all 27,551 deaths in the United States, the 2nd 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

Patrolman John J. Earle

Boston Police Department · End of Watch October 21, 1916

Where the Name Is Cut

National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial · Panel 34-W

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