On October 16, 2012, Troop B held a Memorial Service to honor their six fallen Troopers who have been killed in the line of duty. The service was the idea of Trooper Andrew Canata of SP Cheshire, who last year noticed that three of their names were not on the Western Massachusetts Fallen Police Officers Memorial. He rectified that oversight, and thought it would be appropriate for Troop B to honor its fallen members with permanent reminders. Trooper Canata obtained funds from SPAM to have six large-framed portraits with accompanying biographies produced so that the Troopers’ last duty station could have a lasting and permanent tribute to hang on the wall of the barracks. He also had six smaller plaques constructed for display in the Troop Headquarters. The idea culminated in a brief ceremony whose attendees included Lieutenant Colonel Edward Amodeo, Commander of Field Services, family members of the fallen Troopers, retired B Troopers, and Troop personnel. Speakers included Lieutenant Maura Schiavina (MSP retired) of the Concerns of Police Survivors (COPS) and Father William Hamilton, MSP Chaplain, along with Trooper Canata and Troop Commander Major Barry O’Brien. A small reception followed inside Troop Headquarters, courtesy of the Commissioned Officers’ Association. Thanks to the efforts of Trooper Canata, B Troopers and future B Troopers, before heading out to patrol, will forever see the faces and the names of those Troopers who have made the ultimate sacrifice in the service of the Commonwealth. Those Troop B members are: Trooper Llewllyn Lowther, who was killed in 1924; Trooper George Prentiss, 1927; Trooper Charles McGonagle, 1932; Corporal Albert Hayes, 1940; Trooper Wallace Mathews, 1953; and Sergeant James Marshall, 1960.
Pictured in photo is Trooper Andrew Canata, SP Cheshire