SPRINGFIELD, Mass. (WWLP) - The Springfield Police Department is remembering Detective Francis Sears on Thursday.

On September 11th, 1967, Detective Sears suffered a deadly heart attack while questioning two armed robbery suspects. He took part in a raid and the arrests of those two suspects. Detective Sears had been with the Springfield Police Department for 13 years.

A total of 17 Springfield officers died in the line of duty since the city’s founding in 1636. A Fallen Officer Memorial is located outside the police headquarters on Pearl Street.

Springfield Police Fallen Officers • Thomas Miller 10/05/1675 • Daniel Donovan 09/29/1908 • Adelbert St. Marie 08/31/1934 • Carl Rolf 11/02/1938 • John P. Sullivan, Sr. 02/02/1940 • Thomas F. Murphy 02/02/1940 • Raymond Moriarty 0

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