Boston Police Department, Massachusetts
End of Watch: Friday, November 30, 1973
Age: 54
Tour of Duty: 22 years
Badge Number: 1479
Cause of Death: Gunfire
Date of Incident: November 30, 1973
Weapon Used: Gun; Unknown type
Suspect Info: Released after 12 years
Detective John Schroeder was shot and killed when he surprised three men who were robbing a pawn shop at 1904 Washington Street.
Detective Schroeder was at the business to conduct a background investigation of a police recruit.
The suspect was convicted of first-degree murder but released on a technicality after serving only 12 years. After being released, he committed an armed robbery and was returned to jail. He was again released, and in August 2018, he was once more arrested on illegal firearms sale charges.
Detective Schroeder had been with the Boston Police Department for 22 years. He was survived by his parents and four siblings. One of his other brothers, Patrolman Walter Schroeder, was shot and killed in the line of duty on Sept. 24, 1970, while working for the Boston Police Department.