Middlesex County Sheriff's Office, Massachusetts
End of Watch: Friday, August 24, 1973
Age: 49
Tour of Duty: 9 years
Badge Number: Not available
Cause of Death: Assault
Date of Incident: August 24, 1973
Weapon Used: Person
Suspect Info: Not available
Correction Officer James Callahan suffered a fatal heart attack when he was assaulted by an inmate at the Middlesex House of Correction and Jail at 269 Treble Cove Road in North Billerica.
At 6:05 a.m., the inmate was being moved to an isolation unit for creating disturbances throughout the night. While walking with the inmate, he began to kick and swing at the guards, hitting one in the head and striking a huge blow to Officer Callahan in the abdomen. He immediately began to wheeze and gasp for air. Officer Callahan was transported to Saint John's Hospital where he had passed away on arrival.
Officer Callahan had served with the Middlesex County Sheriff's Office for nine years. He was survived by his wife and six children.