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Joseph C. Reiser
Agency patch
Patrolman

Joseph C. Reiser

Boston Police Department — Roxbury Crossing, MA
Felonious
United States flag Massachusetts flag
End of Watch January 20, 1918
Age 35
Tour of Duty 10 yrs
The Vigil Panel 77 · Column 2 · Line 15 ›
Gender Male
Incident Media Service The Sacrifice Memorials 1 Department 105

Incident

Patrolman Joseph Reiser was shot and killed while attempting to apprehend a burglar in an apartment building on Jersey Street in Back Bay. Patrolman Reiser had observed the suspect, who matched the description of a lookout and went to investigate. The suspect opened fire with a revolver, striking Patrolman Reiser four times before fleeing. The suspect was arrested a week later. He was found to be responsible for 80 burglaries. He specialized in stealing jewelry and phonograph records. He was convicted of Patrolman Reisner's murder and sentenced to life in prison. On May 25, 1920, the suspect broke out of the Massachusetts State Prison along with two other men. He was captured in Chicago on December 24, 1920. On December 24, 1936, his sentence was reduced to 20 years, making him eligible for parole a year later. One of the other escapees was serving a 15 to 20-year sentence for the murder of Patrolman Charles E. Deininger of the Boston, Massachusetts Police Department on February 13, 1919. He surrendered to authorities in Middlesex County in August of 1920. Patrolman Reiser had served with the Boston Police Department for ten years.

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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 Reiser gave the Boston Police Department 10 years.
Thank you for your service to the Roxbury Crossing community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Patrolman Reiser.

— 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 January 20, 1918
Tour of Duty 10 yrs
Age 35
Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious
Weapon Handgun

The Sacrifice · Felonious

Joseph is one of 15,743 officers killed feloniously in the United States, 57.1% of the 27,551 remembered there.

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

  3. See the roll
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Compare against
I

Time

In 1918, 165 officers in the United States were killed feloniously, the 19th heaviest of 213 years on record. The heaviest was 1921, with 248.

Every year on record · United States
II

Who

Joseph was 35. Of the 14,220 killed feloniously in the United States whose age is recorded, half were between 31 and 47; the middle age was 38. Joseph had served 10 years; the middle length of service was 6 years.

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

When

January holds 8% of these deaths in the United States; December holds the most, 9.4%. Sundays: 15.2%.

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, Joseph among them.

Across the years
VI

Where

Patrolman Joseph C. Reiser

Boston Police Department · End of Watch January 20, 1918

Where the Name Is Cut

National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial · Panel 2-E

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