Services Set For Late Peabody Police Officer Henry Breckenridge

PEABODY, MA — Services for late Peabody Officer Henry Breckenridge will be held Tuesday and Wednesday with the public invited to pay their respects and show support for Officer Breckenridge's family and the Peabody Police Department mourning his loss.

The wake will be on Tuesday at Conway Cahill-Brodeur at 82 Lynn Street from 4 to 8 p.m. A public safety walkthrough will step off on Brown Street at 3:45 p.m.

The funeral will be on Wednesday at 11 a.m. at St. Stephen's Episcopal Church at 74 South Common Street in Lynn.

"These events will cause traffic and parking issues in the area around the funeral home on both days, particularly on Wednesday at approx 10:30 a.m. as we process down Lynn Street to the church in Lynn," Peabody Police Chief Thomas Griffin said. "Please bear with us as we give our brother the appropriate send-off."

Griffin called Breckenridge "one of the nicest and most gentle people I have had the honor to know" in announcing the officer's death from complications during a non-emergency surgery to the community on Thursday morning. He was 40 years old.

Breckenridge worked as a resource officer at Peabody Veterans Memorial High School and a reserve officer for the city of Peabody. He also coached football and baseball on the high school level at both Bishop Fenwick and Peabody High School.

For the past seven years, Henry served as a patrolman for the Peabody Police Department.

Griffin said Breckenridge had a laughter and smile "we will forever remember" and was particularly influential within the city's youth community.

"These are testaments to the caliber of his character, which include authenticity, kindness and compassion," Griffin said.

Officer Breckenridge's obituary and memory page can be found here.

(Scott Souza is a Patch field editor covering Beverly, Danvers, Marblehead, Peabody, Salem and Swampscott. He can be reached at Scott.Souza@Patch.com. Twitter: @Scott_Souza.)