Trooper Paul Barry

The State Police Association of Massachusetts

In memory of the Massachusetts State Police Officers who gave their lives in service to the Commonwealth

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Tpr. Paul F. Barry was killed in the line of duty on June 15, 2006. Tpr. Barry died as a result of injuries sustained in a cruiser accident on Rte. 495 in Wrentham. Tpr. Barry was a six year veteran of the state police and was assigned to the State Police fleet section at Ft. Devens in Ayer, Mass.

Tpr.. Barry was born and raised in Dorchester and lived with his wife, Maryellen and seven children in Franklin. Following graduation with the 75th R.T.T. on Dec. 14, 2000, Tpr. Barry was assigned to SP Holden and later SP Grafton. In September of 2005, he accepted a transfer to the fleet section.

While the death of a police officer is no less nor more significant than any other, Tpr. Barry's death shook his community and the entire commonwealth to its core. Tpr. Barry's life revolved around his children. During his own childhood in Dorchester, Tpr. Barry became the product of a close knit family, whose values and traditions are plainly evident with each one of his children. A fitting tribute to Tpr. Barry would be to talk about his children, as he did so proudly and frequently, with others.

The oldest is Nicholas, who at 11 years old, participates quite competitively in no less then three different sports at varying times of the year, soccer, baseball and basketball. Nicholas will surely rise to the occasion as "man of the house", in his fathers absence. At the birth of the next three children, triplets, 10 years old, Tpr.. Barry proudly uttered only one word "jackpot". Emily and Alexandra both play soccer, basketball and lacrosse at varying times of the year. Emily's artistic talents can be seen displayed throughout the "Barry compound", while Alexandra is the source for family history. Colin, like his older brother is also a tri-athlete, and fierce competitor, competing in seasonal leagues of soccer, baseball and basketball. At the birth of Michaela, 6 years old, a "cannonball", as her father referred to her, was launched. Girls are too slow for Michaela, so she plays on a boys baseball league. She will most likely tell you that there is definitely "no crying in baseball". James, 3 years old, was "Daddy's Jamsie boy", who looked forward to his nightly ritual of being rocked to sleep in the rocking chair with his father. James has been described as a 13 year old trapped in a 3 year olds body. At 9 months old, is Elizabeth Grace, who might not realize that with the pureness and innocence of an infant, she may have the best connection to her late father.

Tpr. Barry will always be remembered as the embodiment of a man dedicated to his wife and family. His co-workers will remember a "go-to" kind of guy that could multi-task like a champion and his personal friends will recall that his level of friendship was the type that did not need recognition and could always be relied upon in good times and bad.

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