Boston Police Department, Massachusetts
End of Watch: Saturday, February 5, 1994
Age: 37
Tour of Duty: 14 years
Badge Number: 2808
Cause of Death: Gunfire
Date of Incident: February 5, 1994
Weapon Used: Handgun
Suspect Info: Sentenced to life
Police Officer Berisford Anderson was shot and killed while off-duty by a person he stopped for driving the wrong way down a one-way street outside 107 Spencer Street.
Officer Anderson had just gotten off duty and had changed into civilian clothes and taken his ballistic vest off. He confronted a man, who, unknown to Anderson, was wanted on outstanding warrants out of Framingham, Massachusetts. The male had been speeding the wrong way down a one-way street after hitting another vehicle and driving away in a stolen vehicle.
When Officer Anderson identified himself as a police officer, the male pulled out a handgun and shot Officer Anderson point-blank in the chest.
A Boston Police Department officer returning to Boston from a funeral for Chief of Police Robert J. Mortell apprehended the killer a short time later.
The 18-year-old suspect was convicted of first-degree murder and sentenced to life in prison.
Officer Anderson had served with the Boston Police Department for 14 years. He is survived by his wife and five children.