Boston Police Department, Massachusetts
End of Watch: Friday, August 2, 1963
Age: 46
Tour of Duty: 16 years
Badge Number: 1618
Cause of Death: Gunfire
Date of Incident: August 1, 1963
Weapon Used: Gun; Unknown type
Suspect Info: Sentenced to life
Patrolman James O'Leary was shot and killed while chasing several suspects who had just robbed a liquor store at 9 pm.
He had been assigned to a detail to observe the suspects when they robbed a store at the intersection of Boylston Street and Graves Street. Patrolman O'Leary commandeered a vehicle and chased the suspects to the intersection of Commonwealth Avenue and Fairfield Street, where he was shot by one of the men.
Patrolman O'Leary was transported to Massachusetts General Hospital where he succumbed to his gunshot while in surgery.
Two suspects, ages 29 and 31, were arrested and convicted of first-degree murder. The gunman, sentenced to death, later had his sentence commuted to life. On August 30, 1984, his request for parole was approved but blocked by Governor Michael S Dukakis. The other suspect was sentenced to life.
Patrolman O'Leary was a United States Army WW II veteran and had served with the Boston Police Department for 16 years. He was survived by his wife and three children.
The bridge that carries Boylston Street over the Massachusetts Turnpike was renamed the Patrolman James B. O'Leary Bridge.