Patrolman William H. Welch, Framingham Police Department, Massachusetts

Patrolman William H. Welch

Framingham Police Department, Massachusetts

End of Watch Saturday, February 3, 1923

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William H. Welch

Patrolman William Welch was shot and killed while investigating a suspicious person at 3:00 am.

He was on his nightly rounds when he encountered the man at McGrath Square. He took the man to the Roxbury House to phone police headquarters, but while he was on the phone, the man fled.

As Patrolman Welch caught up to the suspect, he produced a concealed handgun and shot the patrolman, killing him.

A suspect was arrested two months later but acquitted at trial. The same man was later convicted of shooting a second man and died while in prison. It is believed the man confessed to killing Patrolman Welch while on his deathbed.

Patrolman Welch had served with the Framingham Police Department for 15 years. He was survived by his wife and three children.

Bio

Age 52
Tour 15 years
Badge Not available

Incident Details

Cause Gunfire
Weapon Gun; Unknown type
Offender Deceased

suspicious person

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Most Recent Reflection

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Patrolman Welch, it has been 101 years since you were taken from us. I grew up in Framingham, and because of the contacts I had with our school safety officer and a patrol officer who my part-time school bus driver I knew very early on in my life I wanted to be a police officer. That eventually led to a 34-year police career, half of those years as a Chief.

New England law enforcement has continued to thrive, learn and become safer due to the traditions and sacrifices you, your family, and many others have made for us. Thank you for your 15 years of law enforcement service.

Chief (Ret) Steven Marshall
Georges Mills, NH

February 3, 2024