The Boston Police Department (BPD) added the names of eight officers who died in the line of duty to the department’s Wall of Honor at police headquarters on Tremont Street.
All eight officers died between 1825 and 1944. Their late addition to the Wall of Honor was due to research by BPD archivist Margaret Sullivan and BPD historian Officer Robert Anthony, according to bpdnews.com. Those researchers have been scouring old newspapers and other sources to discover BPD officers who died in the line of duty, but who were not officially recognized. Besides the Wall of Honor, some signs honoring fallen officers have been placed on city streets.
“Honoring those who make the ultimate sacrifice while protecting and serving the citizens of our city is one of the most important things we can do. The officers honored here today gave up their lives in protection of others and we can’t thank or honor them enough,” BPD Commissioner William Evans said in the Dec. 4 blog post.
The eight officers honored were: Watch Officer Jonathan Houghton, died 1825; Watch Officer David Estes, died 1848; Patrolman Cornelius F. Regan, died 1898; Patrolman Walter E. Harris, died 1906; Patrolman Michael Brennan, died 1918; Captain Hugh J. Lee, died 1919; Patrolman John Condon, died 1927; and Patrolman John Lynch, died 1944.
The officers were posthumously presented with the department’s Medal of Honor in accordance with their service and sacrifice, according to the post.