BPD Remembers: The men and women of the Boston Police Department remember Officer Ezekiel Wentworth Hodsdon who was killed in the line of duty 166 years ago today. On Sunday, October 18, 1857, Officer Hodsdon was shot and killed by a suspect as he attempted to arrest a second suspect in the area of Havre Street and Maverick Street in East Boston. Both suspects were later identified and arrested.
Officer Hodsdon was the first Boston Police Officer killed in the line of duty. He was 25 years old at the time of his death and had served with the Boston Police Department for one year. Officer Hodson was survived by his wife and their son, who was just 10 days old at the time of his death.
Officer Hodsdon is buried at Woodlawn Cemetery in Everett, MA. His name is located on the National Law Enforcement Memorial as well as the Hero Wall at Boston Police Headquarters and the Massachusetts Law Enforcement Memorial at the State House.
A Hero Sign and Memorial have been placed in his honor at the corner of Maverick Street and Havre Street in East Boston.