Hanna

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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February 26, 1983

On February 26^th, 1983, Trooper Hanna became the third Massachusetts State Trooper to be murdered. He was 33 years old at the time of his death. He was a Native of Natick, married, and the father of three small children.

A member of the 58^th Recruit Training Troop, he became a trooper on October 15^th, 1974. He was assigned to Troop C Holden, a member of the Troop C "55" team.

On a Saturday night, at 2030 hrs., while on patrol in cruiser 668 near the intersection of Routes 20 and 12 in the town of Auburn, Trooper Hanna conducted a motor vehicle stop. Located in the car were three men and two women. Trooper Hanna removed the occupants for questioning, when the male subjects began to converse to each other in Spanish. Without warning, Trooper Hanna was shot six times by one of the male subjects. He died later that evening in a Worcester Hospital. His three assailants were arrested after a short, but comprehensive investigation. All were convicted of murder in the first degree and are currently serving life sentences. The highest award for valor issued by the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, the George L. Hanna Award, is named for this trooper.

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