Mattaliano

The State Police Association of Massachusetts

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

Support the Massachusetts Law Enforcement Memorial Foundation

February 22, 1995

A the time of their deaths, Troopers Perry and Mattaliano were assigned to the State Police Air Wing Section and stationed at Norwood. They were conducting routine rotary wing operations in a State Police helicopter; their mission was the transportation of two telephone workers from the Nashua Street helipad in Boston back to Norwood. Three minutes after take-off, their aircraft suffered a catastrophic engine failure, resulting in a crash of the helicopter into the roof of the Harvard Sailing Center on the North side of the Charles River. There were no survivors.

Trooper Perry was a graduate of the 63^rd Recruit Training Troop and a 14 year member of the State Police. Prior to the Air Wing, he spent the bulk of his career in Troop A. He additionally held a degree in law and had just started a law practice with his wife Carol at the time of his death.

Trooper Mattaliano was a member of the 65^th Recruit Training Troop and a member of the State Police since 1983. He joined the Air Wing in 1989. Both his wife and brother are troopers and his father was Chief of Police in Milton. This incident marks the first time two members of the State Police were killed in the same incident.

[Top of Page]