Fallen Waltham Police Officer Paul Tracey remembered as hero, honored in "massive sea of blue"
WALTHAM - Police officers from around the country came to Massachusetts in a "massive sea of blue" Friday to pay their final respects to fallen Waltham Police Officer Paul Tracey and his family.
Officer Tracey and National Grid worker Roderick Jackson were both killed December 6 when they were hit by a pickup truck at a work site on Totten Pond Road. Tracey was 58 years old. He was on the force in Waltham for more than 27 years.
Hundreds of officers joined his family and friends for the mass at Our Lady Comforter of the Afflicted Church on Trapelo Rd.
They saluted as his casket, draped in the American flag, was carried into the church on the bright, sunny day.
"Officer Tracey will never be forgotten"
"Especially being this close to the holidays it's just showing that no matter where the agency is, no matter how big, no matter how small, everybody's here to do the same job, and especially with his wife still doing the job, she's going to wake up today and see the massive sea of blue coming in and just know that she is loved, the family is loved and Officer Tracey will never be forgotten," Raleigh, North Carolina Police Officer Chris Vegin told WBZ-TV.
"It starts with their family and ripples all the way through. A lot of us join this to protect the community and when one of us falls, it's a piece that's missing," said Paxton Police Officer Tim Larkham.
"He was a great guy, a really great guy, always smiling and always nice," Waltham resident Cynthia Lombardo said.
"Paul Tracey is our hero"
"Paul Tracey is our hero," Tracey's brother Jim told the packed church.
"Paul lost his life in the line of duty doing what he loved most, protecting and serving the citizens of Waltham and he's leaving behind a great legacy for the rest of us to follow," he said.
"So many lives were changed forever on the evening of December 6. Unfortunately, for us, this day will always be remembered as the day that the life of a great man cut was short. A law enforcement career that ended too soon and a husband, father, brother, uncle and godfather and friend who had so much more to give, was taken from us."
Jim Tracy, who was joined by his brothers Gerry and Michael, said Paul was a proud family man who loved pranks, summer, Jimmy Buffet and the beach. Jim said in 2018, Paul helped save the life of a woman who went into cardiac arrest on a beach.
"Paul will never be forgotten," Jim Tracey said.
Waltham schools were closed Friday for the funeral. The church broadcast the service on large screens outside in the parking lot for the overflow crowd of mourners.
"It's beautiful and amazing and I hope it gives the family comfort because it's going to be a long road ahead," Waltham resident PJ McGowan said about the funeral.
Officer Tracey was buried with police honors at Mount Feake Cemetery in Waltham.
Tracey was raised in Waltham and graduated from Waltham High School in 1983. He leaves behind his wife, a school resource officer in Waltham, and their two children.
According to his obituary, donations may be made in his memory to the Paul Tracey Family Fund at the Cambridge Savings Bank, 40 Leonard Street, Belmont, MA 02478.
Services will be held for National Grid worker Roderick Jackson on Saturday in Cambridge.