Springfield honors its fallen police officers with ceremony

A man stands before the memorial to fallen members of the Springfield Police Department. His brother is among those honored.
Reminder Publishing photo by Sarah Heinonen

SPRINGFIELD — The call of a bugle sounding taps echoed off the Springfield Police Department headquarters on Pearl Street before being carried away on the wind, while dozens of officers, dignitaries and community members looked on stoically.

Following the bugle call, officers conducted a three-volley salute, firing rifles to recognize the 17 Springfield officers who have died in the line of duty.

“To all the families who have lost loved ones, we honor you today,” said Police Superintendent Lawrence Akers. “Their sacrifice was not an act of chance, but an act of character. Your loved ones are not forgotten, and neither are you.”

Mayor Domenic Sarno said, “Policing is still an honorable profession and so needed.” He described police officers as “sentinels of peace.”

The mayor wears a “Badge 7” pin on his lapel in remembrance of Sgt. Kevin Ambrose, who died in 2012 protecting a mother and child during a domestic disturbance. He said, “Never forget the officers who gave the ultimate sacrifice for people they didn’t even know.”

Police Chaplain William Hamilton remarked, “Behind the badge, there are wives, husbands, mothers and fathers, sisters and brothers.”
Michael Vigneault, son of fallen officer, Richard Vigneault, spoke about absence felt by children who have lost a parent. “Never forget the price of peace,” he said.

Maura Schiavina, whose brother, Michael Schiavina, was killed in the line of duty, thanked Sarno for his “unwavering support and dedication” to the families of fallen Springfield police officers. Referring to the ceremony, she said, “These kinds of things give us comfort. I feel like I’m here with Michael.”

While the Police Department recognizes its fallen officers each year as part of National Police Week, May 13’s memorial ceremony included the unveiling of new memorial plaques for the officers. The plaques were funded by donations from the Hockey for Heroes Foundation, the IBPO Local 364 Patrolman’s Union and the Springfield Police Supervisors Association.

A contingent of officers was absent from the ceremony, as they were representing the Springfield Police Department at the funeral of State Police Trooper Kevin Trainer who was recently killed in a wrong-way crash responding to a call.

Springfield’s fallen officers are:

• Thomas Miller, Oct. 3, 1675
• Daniel Donovan, Sept. 29, 1908
• Adelbert St. Marie, Aug. 31, 1934
• Carl Rolf, Nov. 2, 1938
• John P. Sullivan, Sr., Feb. 2, 1940
• Thomas F. Murphy, Feb. 2, 1940
• Raymond Moriarty, Sept. 2, 1946
• John W. Connors, Feb. 20, 1953
• Leo Hamel, Oct. 31, 1955
• Francis Sears, Sept. 11, 1967
• Walter C. Juskiewicz, June 21, 1969
• William R. Berte, Jan. 8, 1973
• Richard D. Vigneault, April 11, 1973
• Paul F. Mawaka, Oct. 30, 1973
• Michael Schiavina, Nov. 12, 1985
• Alain Beauregard, Nov. 15, 1985
• Kevin Ambrose, June 4, 2012