Officer Edward C. Callahan

Edward C. Callahan

Officer Edward Callahan was shot and killed and his partner was seriously wounded while responding to a robbery at a market on the corner of Pleasant and Pearl Streets.

The shooter was apprehended in Maine several days later. He was convicted of first degree murder and sentenced to death. In 1971 his sentence was commuted to life. He became one of Massachusetts' most notorious prisoners, assaulting guards, starting riots, and sexually assaulting other inmates. He died in prison August 4, 2014.

Officer Callahan had been employed with the Malden Police Department for ten years, and was survived by his wife and two children. His father became a Malden Police Officer shortly after coming here from Ireland in 1900. His son later became a Malden police officer and proudly wore his father's badge. When he died from cancer at age 33 in 1992 the city was devastated. The badge was permanently retired. In 2013 his son's nephew became a Malden Police Officer. Officer Callahan was a World War II Navy Veteran.