Boston Police Department, Massachusetts
End of Watch: Wednesday, October 2, 1946
Age: 46
Tour of Duty: 18 years
Badge Number: Not available
Cause of Death: Gunfire
Date of Incident: October 2, 1946
Weapon Used: Handgun; .32 caliber
Suspect Info: Paroled in 1967
Sergeant William Healey was shot and killed when he confronted two men who were burglarizing an apartment. Two men came home and surprised two burglars inside. While one wrestled with the burglars the other man ran into the street shouting for police. Sergeant Healey responded and as he entered the front door one of the suspects shot him twice.
The suspect who shot him, age 20, accidentally shot himself in the foot as they made their escape. With information provided by two taxi drivers, the suspects were taken into custody at their homes. Both men were convicted of Sergeant Healey's murder and sentenced to life.
Sergeant Healey's killer was paroled on June 3, 1967. The second suspect, 23, was one of the ring leaders in the Charlestown Prison riot in 1955, in which four guards were held hostage for three days. He and the other inmates were never punished for the riot after the Governor declared the prison unfit for human habitation and had it closed. All prisoners were transferred to Walpole Prison. He was paroled on December 7, 1967. In 1974 he was arrested in Dorchester for the armed robbery of a variety store, and returned to prison. He was convicted of the robbery in 1976 and sentenced to 20 years.
Sergeant Healey had served with the Boston Police Department for 18 years. He was survived by his wife and two children.