Frank B. Callahan
Agency patch
Patrolman

Frank B. Callahan

Boston Police Department — Roxbury Crossing, MA
Felonious
End of Watch February 20, 1945
Age 54
Tour of Duty 26 yrs
The Vigil Panel 81 ›
Gender Male

Incident

Patrolman Frank Callahan was shot and mortally wounded by a man who he attempted to stop who was running from a pawn shop at 866 Washington Street in Boston. The man had just killed the proprietor and his wife during a holdup attempt. As the suspect fled the scene through the parking lot, he encountered Patrolman Callahan. When Patrolman Callahan attempted to apprehend him, he fired two shots, striking him near his heart. Another officer who was standing nearby pursued the suspect and, when he would not stop, shot and killed him. Patrolman Callahan succumbed to his wounds at the City Hospital the next day. Patrolman Callahan had served with the Boston Police Department for 26 years.

Survivors

He was survived by his wife and two children.

In Our Keeping

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Stewardship
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August 2, 2026
Last updated
August 2, 2026

Honored here by 1 tribute.

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Tributes

26 years. You could have gone home.
Patrolman Callahan gave the Boston Police Department 26 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, Patrolman Callahan.

— 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 February 20, 1945
Tour of Duty 26 yrs
Age 54
Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious
Weapon Gun

The Sacrifice · Felonious

Frank 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.

  1. See the roll
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Compare against
I

Time

In 1945, 68 officers in the United States were killed feloniously, the 105th heaviest of 213 years on record. The heaviest was 1921, with 248.

Every year on record · United States
II

Who

Frank was 54. 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. Frank had served 26 years; the middle length of service was 6 years.

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

When

February holds 7.4% of these deaths in the United States; December holds the most, 9.4%. Tuesdays: 13.4%.

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 gun, in 22.8% of these deaths.

Every cause
Weapons recorded
V

His people

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

Across the years
VI

Where

Patrolman Frank B. Callahan

Boston Police Department · End of Watch February 20, 1945

Where the Name Is Cut

National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial · Panel 2-E

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