"When a police officer is killed, it's not an agency that loses an officer, it's an entire nation." -Chris Cosgriff, ODMP Founder
Police Officer William R. Beckman
Boston Police Department, Massachusetts
End of Watch: Wednesday, September 1, 1976
Age: 52
Tour: 21 years
Hundreds of law enforcement officers attended a Mass at 10 today in St. Bartholomew's Church, Needham for Ptl. William R. Beckman, 52, a veteran Boston police officer who died Wednesday.
During the Mass, concelebrated by Auxillary Bishop John J. Mulcahy and four other priests, Rev. Robert Deeley of St. Bartholomew's read a poem that was written by Mrs. Rita Beckman as a 15th anniversary gift to her husband.
It told of how they met, of their marriage that was blessed by five children, of how hard he worked to be a good father and a good police officer, and of the happiness they shared together. Muffled sobs were heard in the church as Father Deeley read the final line:
"This is known as wedded bliss..."
Beckman leaves his wife, Rita Anne, son William Jr., 16; and four daughters, Mary, 18, Rita, 17, Anne, 13, and Marguerite, 11, all of Needham; two brothers, Carl of Melrose and Paul of Duxbury, and a sister, Mrs. Rita Phelan of Framingham.
Ptl. Beckman, assigned to District 4 in the South End, suffered a heart attack following a chase and struggle with a larceny suspect in the Back Bay. He collapsed on the pavement outside a loading platform of the Sheraton Boston Hotel, moments after he had subdued and handcuffed his prisoner. Beckman was pronounced dead upon arrival at City Hospital.
Born in Somerville, he was a Navy veteran of World War II and the Korean Conflict.
Beckman and his family lived at 153 Broadmeadow rd., Needham.
He joined the Boston Police Department in 1954 and in 1972 received a department commendation for assisting in the arrest of a rape and murder suspect.
The Boston V.F.W. Post 1018 led the cortege which escorted Beckman's steel-gray bier formed at Bird's Hill, and followed the mile-long route to the church. It was led by four mounted patrolmen followed on foot by Police Commissioner Robert J. di Grazia and Supt.-in-Chief Joseph M. Jordan, head of the Bureau of Field Services, 36 superior officers ranging from superintendents to lieutenants, and 60 uniformed patrolmen.
Behind them was Ptl. Alfred J. Ridge of the Traffic Division, sounding a funeral beat on a drum. Then came delegations of officers from the Boston, state, and MDC police, as well as the Registry and detachments from Cambridge, Quincy, Newton, Needham, Dover, Randolph, the Boston police post, VFW, and the Boston Fire Dept. color guard.
Pall bearers were: Patrolmen George Bishop, Edmund Burke, Lawrence Daly, Joseph Egan, William Legendre and William McGuinness, all of Division 4.
Flags on all police buildings will be flown at half-mast for the next 30 days.
Burial was in St. Mary's Cemetery, Needham.
My Notes:
The son of Carl H. (born in Hamburg, Germany) and Grace L. Beckman (born in Mass).
U.S. Navy World War II Veteran
Korean Conflict Veteran
Enlistment Date 1: 4 Dec 1950
Release Date 1: 1 Apr 1952
Police Officer William R. Beckman
Boston Police Department, Massachusetts
End of Watch: Wednesday, September 1, 1976
Age: 52
Tour: 21 years
Hundreds of law enforcement officers attended a Mass at 10 today in St. Bartholomew's Church, Needham for Ptl. William R. Beckman, 52, a veteran Boston police officer who died Wednesday.
During the Mass, concelebrated by Auxillary Bishop John J. Mulcahy and four other priests, Rev. Robert Deeley of St. Bartholomew's read a poem that was written by Mrs. Rita Beckman as a 15th anniversary gift to her husband.
It told of how they met, of their marriage that was blessed by five children, of how hard he worked to be a good father and a good police officer, and of the happiness they shared together. Muffled sobs were heard in the church as Father Deeley read the final line:
"This is known as wedded bliss..."
Beckman leaves his wife, Rita Anne, son William Jr., 16; and four daughters, Mary, 18, Rita, 17, Anne, 13, and Marguerite, 11, all of Needham; two brothers, Carl of Melrose and Paul of Duxbury, and a sister, Mrs. Rita Phelan of Framingham.
Ptl. Beckman, assigned to District 4 in the South End, suffered a heart attack following a chase and struggle with a larceny suspect in the Back Bay. He collapsed on the pavement outside a loading platform of the Sheraton Boston Hotel, moments after he had subdued and handcuffed his prisoner. Beckman was pronounced dead upon arrival at City Hospital.
Born in Somerville, he was a Navy veteran of World War II and the Korean Conflict.
Beckman and his family lived at 153 Broadmeadow rd., Needham.
He joined the Boston Police Department in 1954 and in 1972 received a department commendation for assisting in the arrest of a rape and murder suspect.
The Boston V.F.W. Post 1018 led the cortege which escorted Beckman's steel-gray bier formed at Bird's Hill, and followed the mile-long route to the church. It was led by four mounted patrolmen followed on foot by Police Commissioner Robert J. di Grazia and Supt.-in-Chief Joseph M. Jordan, head of the Bureau of Field Services, 36 superior officers ranging from superintendents to lieutenants, and 60 uniformed patrolmen.
Behind them was Ptl. Alfred J. Ridge of the Traffic Division, sounding a funeral beat on a drum. Then came delegations of officers from the Boston, state, and MDC police, as well as the Registry and detachments from Cambridge, Quincy, Newton, Needham, Dover, Randolph, the Boston police post, VFW, and the Boston Fire Dept. color guard.
Pall bearers were: Patrolmen George Bishop, Edmund Burke, Lawrence Daly, Joseph Egan, William Legendre and William McGuinness, all of Division 4.
Flags on all police buildings will be flown at half-mast for the next 30 days.
Burial was in St. Mary's Cemetery, Needham.
My Notes:
The son of Carl H. (born in Hamburg, Germany) and Grace L. Beckman (born in Mass).
U.S. Navy World War II Veteran
Korean Conflict Veteran
Enlistment Date 1: 4 Dec 1950
Release Date 1: 1 Apr 1952
"When a police officer is killed, it's not an agency that loses an officer, it's an entire nation." -Chris Cosgriff, ODMP Founder
Police Officer William R. Beckman
Boston Police Department, Massachusetts
End of Watch: Wednesday, September 1, 1976
Age: 52
Tour: 21 years
Hundreds of law enforcement officers attended a Mass at 10 today in St. Bartholomew's Church, Needham for Ptl. William R. Beckman, 52, a veteran Boston police officer who died Wednesday.
During the Mass, concelebrated by Auxillary Bishop John J. Mulcahy and four other priests, Rev. Robert Deeley of St. Bartholomew's read a poem that was written by Mrs. Rita Beckman as a 15th anniversary gift to her husband.
It told of how they met, of their marriage that was blessed by five children, of how hard he worked to be a good father and a good police officer, and of the happiness they shared together. Muffled sobs were heard in the church as Father Deeley read the final line:
"This is known as wedded bliss..."
Beckman leaves his wife, Rita Anne, son William Jr., 16; and four daughters, Mary, 18, Rita, 17, Anne, 13, and Marguerite, 11, all of Needham; two brothers, Carl of Melrose and Paul of Duxbury, and a sister, Mrs. Rita Phelan of Framingham.
Ptl. Beckman, assigned to District 4 in the South End, suffered a heart attack following a chase and struggle with a larceny suspect in the Back Bay. He collapsed on the pavement outside a loading platform of the Sheraton Boston Hotel, moments after he had subdued and handcuffed his prisoner. Beckman was pronounced dead upon arrival at City Hospital.
Born in Somerville, he was a Navy veteran of World War II and the Korean Conflict.
Beckman and his family lived at 153 Broadmeadow rd., Needham.
He joined the Boston Police Department in 1954 and in 1972 received a department commendation for assisting in the arrest of a rape and murder suspect.
The Boston V.F.W. Post 1018 led the cortege which escorted Beckman's steel-gray bier formed at Bird's Hill, and followed the mile-long route to the church. It was led by four mounted patrolmen followed on foot by Police Commissioner Robert J. di Grazia and Supt.-in-Chief Joseph M. Jordan, head of the Bureau of Field Services, 36 superior officers ranging from superintendents to lieutenants, and 60 uniformed patrolmen.
Behind them was Ptl. Alfred J. Ridge of the Traffic Division, sounding a funeral beat on a drum. Then came delegations of officers from the Boston, state, and MDC police, as well as the Registry and detachments from Cambridge, Quincy, Newton, Needham, Dover, Randolph, the Boston police post, VFW, and the Boston Fire Dept. color guard.
Pall bearers were: Patrolmen George Bishop, Edmund Burke, Lawrence Daly, Joseph Egan, William Legendre and William McGuinness, all of Division 4.
Flags on all police buildings will be flown at half-mast for the next 30 days.
Burial was in St. Mary's Cemetery, Needham.
My Notes:
The son of Carl H. (born in Hamburg, Germany) and Grace L. Beckman (born in Mass).
U.S. Navy World War II Veteran
Korean Conflict Veteran
Enlistment Date 1: 4 Dec 1950
Release Date 1: 1 Apr 1952
Police Officer William R. Beckman
Boston Police Department, Massachusetts
End of Watch: Wednesday, September 1, 1976
Age: 52
Tour: 21 years
Hundreds of law enforcement officers attended a Mass at 10 today in St. Bartholomew's Church, Needham for Ptl. William R. Beckman, 52, a veteran Boston police officer who died Wednesday.
During the Mass, concelebrated by Auxillary Bishop John J. Mulcahy and four other priests, Rev. Robert Deeley of St. Bartholomew's read a poem that was written by Mrs. Rita Beckman as a 15th anniversary gift to her husband.
It told of how they met, of their marriage that was blessed by five children, of how hard he worked to be a good father and a good police officer, and of the happiness they shared together. Muffled sobs were heard in the church as Father Deeley read the final line:
"This is known as wedded bliss..."
Beckman leaves his wife, Rita Anne, son William Jr., 16; and four daughters, Mary, 18, Rita, 17, Anne, 13, and Marguerite, 11, all of Needham; two brothers, Carl of Melrose and Paul of Duxbury, and a sister, Mrs. Rita Phelan of Framingham.
Ptl. Beckman, assigned to District 4 in the South End, suffered a heart attack following a chase and struggle with a larceny suspect in the Back Bay. He collapsed on the pavement outside a loading platform of the Sheraton Boston Hotel, moments after he had subdued and handcuffed his prisoner. Beckman was pronounced dead upon arrival at City Hospital.
Born in Somerville, he was a Navy veteran of World War II and the Korean Conflict.
Beckman and his family lived at 153 Broadmeadow rd., Needham.
He joined the Boston Police Department in 1954 and in 1972 received a department commendation for assisting in the arrest of a rape and murder suspect.
The Boston V.F.W. Post 1018 led the cortege which escorted Beckman's steel-gray bier formed at Bird's Hill, and followed the mile-long route to the church. It was led by four mounted patrolmen followed on foot by Police Commissioner Robert J. di Grazia and Supt.-in-Chief Joseph M. Jordan, head of the Bureau of Field Services, 36 superior officers ranging from superintendents to lieutenants, and 60 uniformed patrolmen.
Behind them was Ptl. Alfred J. Ridge of the Traffic Division, sounding a funeral beat on a drum. Then came delegations of officers from the Boston, state, and MDC police, as well as the Registry and detachments from Cambridge, Quincy, Newton, Needham, Dover, Randolph, the Boston police post, VFW, and the Boston Fire Dept. color guard.
Pall bearers were: Patrolmen George Bishop, Edmund Burke, Lawrence Daly, Joseph Egan, William Legendre and William McGuinness, all of Division 4.
Flags on all police buildings will be flown at half-mast for the next 30 days.
Burial was in St. Mary's Cemetery, Needham.
My Notes:
The son of Carl H. (born in Hamburg, Germany) and Grace L. Beckman (born in Mass).
U.S. Navy World War II Veteran
Korean Conflict Veteran
Enlistment Date 1: 4 Dec 1950
Release Date 1: 1 Apr 1952
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