Springfield Police Honor Life and Service of Officer Kevin Ambrose on 10th Anniversary of his Line-of-Duty Death, Unveil Plans for New Monument

Springfield, Mass. — The Springfield Police Department commemorated the 10th anniversary of the line-of-duty death of Springfield Police Officer Kevin Ambrose Saturday morning.

Police Superintendent Cheryl Clapprood provided remarks remembering Officer Ambrose, his contributions to the department and community and his impact on his fellow officers.

A rendering of a new monument memorializing fallen officers was also unveiled. The planned 6-foot monument will be built next to the existing Fallen Officers Memorial outside of police headquarters on Pearl Street.

The monument will be black granite, and will feature the Springfield Police badge with the traditional black mourning band. It will have the phrase “End of Watch” above a list with the names of Springfield’s 17 fallen officers.

The monument will be built using funds raised through “Light Up the Blue,” a 25-mile bicycle tour and 5K walk that was held in June 2019, organized by Springfield Police Detective Maria Siciliano.

The new monument is expected to be installed in 2023.

As part of the department’s protocol in honoring Officer Ambrose, a police cruiser with blue lights flashing was also outside police headquarters Saturday and a wreath was laid at the Fallen Officer Memorial. Father Bill Hamilton offered a prayer and dispatch held a moment of silence at 1:06 p.m.

“It’s hard to believe that it’s been 10 years since Kevin’s death. He is truly missed and his family is in my thoughts today and every day,” Police Superintendent Clapprood said. “We were pleased to unveil the plans for a new monument today in honor of the ultimate sacrifice that Kevin and all of the fallen officers of this department have made. I would like to commend Detective Siciliano for her work planning and fundraising for the monument, and I thank everyone who participated in Light Up the Blue. We are committed to remembering our fallen officers no matter how many years pass, and the new monument will help us continue to commemorate the life and service of each of them.”

Mayor Domenic J. Sarno states, “On this day, the 10th anniversary, we must never forget and always remember Officer Kevin Ambrose’s heroic efforts to save a young mother and her child. He made the ultimate sacrifice in order to secure their lives. Police Superintendent Cheryl Clapprood and I, and our brave and dedicated men and women of the Springfield Police Department once again mark the anniversary and honor the memory of Officer Ambrose. I respectfully ask those who are able, as I will do, to please take a moment to remember this fallen hero. May God rest Kevin’s soul and all those who have made the ultimate sacrifice, and May God protect our men and women in blue and the community in which they serve – especially during these challenging times.”

Officer Ambrose was killed responding to a domestic disturbance at the Lawton Arms Apartments on Lawton Street on June 4, 2012. He was shot while protecting a woman and her child from the woman’s boyfriend. The lives of both the mother and child were saved.

Officer Ambrose had served with the Springfield Police Department for 36 years. He is survived by his wife, son, daughter and grandchild.