Detective John David Schroeder, Boston Police Department, Massachusetts

Detective John David Schroeder

Boston Police Department, Massachusetts

End of Watch Friday, November 30, 1973

John David Schroeder

Detective John Schroeder was shot and killed when he surprised three men who were robbing a pawn shop.

Detective Schroeder was at the business to conduct a background investigation of a police recruit.

The suspect was convicted of first degree murder but released on a technicality after serving only 12 years. After being released he committed an armed robbery and was returned to jail.

Detective Schroeder had been with the Boston Police Department for 22 years. He was survived by his parents and four siblings. One his other brothers, Patrolman Walter Schroeder, was shot and killed in the line of duty on September 24, 1970, while working for the same agency.

Bio

Age 54
Tour 22 years
Badge 1479

Incident Details

Cause Gunfire
Weapon Gun; Unknown type
Offender Released after 12 years

Most Recent Reflection

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I did not know John, but I was employed as a Jail Officer at the Suffolk County (Charles Street) Jail from 1973-1976. I remember quite vividly the most vial and despicable inmates I had ever encountered (Tyrell and his two accomplices) whom had killed John. Deputy Sheriff Daniel Schroeder (nephew of John and Walter Schroeder) was assigned to the prisoner transport division. Many years later I vaguely recall a newspaper article exposing Tyrell employed as a cleaner/janitor at the Massachusetts State House.
Prior to my employment at "Charles Street", I had served two years of active duty (1971-1973)in the Marines, including a deployment to Viet Nam. I immediately entered the Marine Corps Reserve and retired in 1999, attaining the rank of 1STSGT.. I mention this because just a few weeks prior to my employment, a movie was being filmed at the jail. The movie was "The Last Detail". Deputy Dan Schroeder had served in the Massachusetts National Guard and the film director needed someone to wear a set of Marine dress blues for a scene at the front gate. Dan was the only officer on duty that could fit into the dress blues and thus a star was born!
I would later serve two years as a Federal Protective Service Officer in Boston (1979-1981) and the 37 year as a Melrose Police Officer (1981-2018).

Patrolman William O'Donnell, retired
Melrose P.D.

April 21, 2018