BPD Remembers: On Friday, June 16, 1922, Patrolman Albert Giles was killed in the line of duty after being struck by a vehicle 300 feet away from the Chelsea Bridge. Patrolman Giles was on duty when he jumped off a streetcar to walk to a police call box when he was struck by the vehicle. He was taken to the Chelsea Naval Hospital where he was pronounced dead 15 minutes later. On June 26th, 1922, the driver of the car was found not guilty of manslaughter. The incident was ruled accidental.
He had served with the Boston Police Department for 15 months and was assigned to District 15, Charlestown. Patrolman Giles was a also U.S Navy veteran of WWI. Making his passing ever more tragic is the fact that he was survived by his parents, three sisters and brother. He was 24 years old at the time of his death.
Patrolman Giles name is forever imprinted on the National Law Enforcement Memorial in Washington D.C. on Panel 24-E: 32. His name can also be seen on the BPD’s Hero Wall at Boston Police Headquarters and the Massachusetts State Law Enforcement Memorial located on the lawn of the Massachusetts State House in Boston.