Nahant Police Department, Massachusetts
End of Watch: Tuesday, September 4, 1934
Age: 54
Tour of Duty: 25 years
Badge Number: 23
Cause of Death: Assault
Date of Incident: August 23, 1934
Weapon Used: Person
Suspect Info: Convicted of assault
Officer Peter Tierney succumbed to injuries sustained 12 days earlier when he was assaulted by a professional boxer while investigating a disturbance at a local hotel.
One of the subjects fled the scene when the officers arrived and the second began to struggle with Officer Tierney. During the struggle the subject struck Patrolman Tierney, knocking him unconscious. After coming to, Officer Tierney and his partner were able to take the man into custody.
Officer Tierney suffered a fractured skull and an embolism on the brain when he was struck. He was admitted and released from the hospital. A few days later he was admitted to Massachusetts General Hospital after becoming ill. He passed away while undergoing emergency brain surgery to repair the blood clot to his brain.
Officer Tierney had served with the Nahant Police Department for 25 years. He was survived by his wife and three children. One son was appointed to fill his father's position on the Nahunt police force, and one of his grandchildren later went on to serve with the Nahant Police Department.