Shea

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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December 16, 1978

Trooper Shea was killed on December 16^th, 1978, while responding to a motor vehicle accident in the town of Newton. As he was operating EB on Rte. 9 in Natick with emergency equipment activated, Trooper Shea lost control of his cruiser near the intersection of Walnut Street. His cruiser swerved to the right, left the roadway, sheared a telephone pole, then rolled over and collided with a tree. A Natick patrolman found Trooper Shea trapped in his cruiser alive and conscious; he stated "help me I’m hurt". He was removed from the vehicle and rushed to the Leonard Morse Hospital, where he later died.

Investigation of the crash revealed that two youths and a dog had been crossing Route 9 as Trooper Shea was approaching. They observed the cruiser and ran for the median. Trooper Shea swerved to avoid collision with the pedestrians.

The previous July, Trooper Shea was awarded the Medal of Merit for his investigation of a rape in Framingham that led to the arrest of a suspect just hours after the crime. Trooper Shea was a member of the 59^th Recruit Training Troop, graduating on February 28^th, 1975.

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