Prev Next
Patrolman

Cornelius F. Regan

Boston Police Department — Roxbury Crossing, MA
Illness
United States flag Massachusetts flag
End of Watch January 13, 1898
Age 34
Tour of Duty 13 yrs 11 mo
The Vigil Panel 14 ›
Gender Male
Incident Service The Sacrifice Memorials 1 Department 105

Incident

Patrolman Cornelius Regan passed away after contracting spinal meningitis after rescuing a drowning man from the Charles River early on Christmas morning.

He was on patrol near the old Charlestown Bridge at 2:15 am when he heard a man shouting. He ran to the center of the bridge, where he observed a man struggling in the icy river 20 feet below.

After taking off his belt, Patrolman Regan climbed down a bridge pylon to the water. He was able to pull the man to the bridge using his belt, at which point he discovered the man was too drunk to assist himself in any way. Despite getting soaked with the ice-cold water, Patrolman Regan was able to secure a boat which brought them both to shore.

Patrolman Regan began feeling ill the following day. His condition worsened and it was determined that he contracted spinal meningitis as a result of his exposure to the cold. He passed away on January 13th, 1898.

Patrolman Regan had served with the Boston Police Department for four years in Division 13, Headquarters, Division 5, and was assigned to Division 1 when he passed.

Survivors

He was survived by his wife and five children.

In Our Keeping

Permanent identifier
neuraspine_01krbxtnqsrpfbjghf7s3150gz
Stewardship
Maintained by NeuraWeb Global Inc.
Added to badge.nw
August 2, 2026
Last updated
August 2, 2026

Honored here by 1 tribute.

Are you family? This record can be claimed and maintained by those who knew Cornelius. Claim this record.

This page is permanent and free. No fee to view it, no advertising, no tracking, and no account required. It will not be taken down.

Tributes

128 years is a long time for a name to go unread. Not today.
Patrolman Regan gave the Boston Police Department 13 years.
Thank you for your service to the Roxbury Crossing community. Gone but never to be forgotten.

— 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 13, 1898
Tour of Duty 13 yrs 11 mo
Age 34
Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Illness

The Sacrifice · Illness

Cornelius 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.

  3. See the roll
  4. See the roll
Compare against
I

Time

In 1898, 2 officers in the United States were lost to illness, the 46th heaviest of 108 years on record. The heaviest was 2021, with 564.

Every year on record · United States
II

Who

Cornelius was 34. 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. Cornelius had served 13.9 years; the middle length of service was 20 years.

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

When

January holds 9.5% of these deaths in the United States; October holds the most, 14.9%. Thursdays: 15.7%.

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, Cornelius among them.

Across the years
VI

Where

Patrolman Cornelius F. Regan

Boston Police Department · End of Watch January 13, 1898

Where the Name Is Cut

National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial · Panel 55-E

↑