100 Years Ago: Manchester Loses Only Officer In The Line of Duty

MANCHESTER, CT — A century ago this week, Manchester lost its only police officer in the line of duty.

On Jan. 30, 1919, Capt. William F. Madden a Spanish-American War Veteran who joined the local police force in 1908, was shot and killed while attempting to stop a group of burglary suspects in the area of Pine and Pleasant streets.

Madden was on foot patrol and had received information that several men intended to break into a safe at the office of the Cheney Mills, according to MPD records. While attempting to stop the vehicle carrying the suspects, Madden was shot and returned fire as the vehicle fled, according to archives.

Madden became the department's first captain in 1912. Three years later, he was named special officer for the Cheney Brothers Mill district.

A plaque honoring Madden is on display at the Manchester Police Department.

"Today marks the 100th anniversary of the loss of Captain William F. Madden, the last and only law enforcement officer protecting and serving the Town of Manchester to have lost his life in the line of duty," police said in a Jan. 30 Facebook post.

Photo Credit: MPD

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