Somerville Police Department, Massachusetts
End of Watch: Tuesday, June 24, 1947
Age: 57
Tour of Duty: 27 years
Badge Number: Not available
Cause of Death: Gunfire
Date of Incident: June 12, 1947
Weapon Used: Handgun; .38 caliber
Suspect Info: Never apprehended
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.