Officer Michael J. Dowd, Jr.

Michael J. Dowd, Jr.

Officer Michael Dowd succumbed to gunshot wounds sustained 12 days earlier when he interrupted a burglary at a liquor store at the corner of Highland Avenue and Willow Avenue.

Officer Dowd had been checking the door and windows of a liquor store at about 2:35 am when he came across the subject. While being questioned, the man suddenly produced a gun and shot him in the side, inflicting a mortal wound.

The suspect fled the scene as Officer Dowd made his way to a call box. He was able to report the incident to responding officers. The subject escaped and was never apprehended.

Officer Dowd was a WWI veteran and had served with the Somerville Police Department for 27 years.