Officer Ronald Tarentino Jr.
End of Watch Sunday, May 22, 2016
Police Officer Ronald Tarentino was shot and killed while conducting a traffic stop on Rochdale Street, near Zabelle Avenue, at approximately 12:30 am.
An occupant of the vehicle opened fire on him as he approached the car, striking him multiple times. He was transported to UMass Memorial Medical Center where he succumbed to his wounds.
The subject who shot him fled the scene, but was later located at an Oxford apartment building. As officers searched the apartment he was believed to have been hiding in they discovered a secret passage into an adjoining apartment. When the officers made entry into the second apartment the subject exited a closet and opened fire, wounding one Massachusetts State Police tactical team trooper before being killed.
Officer Tarentino had served with the Auburn Police Department for two years and had previously served with the Leicester Police Department for seven years. He is survived by his wife and three children.
In May 2018, Swanson Road Bridge over Mass Pike was renamed Officer Ronald Tarentino Memorial Bridge.
Officer Stephen A. Lukas
End of Watch Wednesday, January 1, 1986
Patrolman Lukas was killed in an automobile accident while responding to an emergency call at 0630 hours. During the response his patrol vehicle skidded off the icy road and struck a utility pole.
Patrolman Lukas had been with the agency for nine months. He had graduated from his police academy class with top academic honors.
Trooper George Hanna
End of Watch Saturday, February 26, 1983
Trooper George Hanna was shot and killed while searching three subjects during a traffic stop near the intersection of Route 12 and Route 20 in Auburn, Massachusetts.
Unbeknownst to Trooper Hanna, the three men had been searching for a local business to rob. As he found a weapon on the first man the second man pulled out a .22 caliber handgun and shot Trooper Hanna. All three subjects, 33, 33, and 20, were arrested and sentenced to life in prison with no parole.
The George Hanna Award was named in honor of Trooper Hanna and is the highest medal a Massachusetts law enforcement officer can receive.
Trooper Hanna had served with the Massachusetts State Police for nine years and was assigned to C Troop. He was survived by his wife and three children.