Special Edition: Five Things You Need To Know Today, Dec. 31

"Five Things You Need to Know Today" is a Patch column that provides readers with essential, daily information at a glance. Check back later for more, and let us know what you think of the new feature in the comments section.

Today is Friday, Dec. 31. Here is a special edition of Five Things, dedicated to Woburn Police Officer Jack Maguire:

1.    Only line of duty death: Police Officer Jack Maguire was killed in the line of duty Sunday night, responding to an armed robbery at Kohl's Department Store. In pursuit of the suspects, Maguire exchanged gunfire with the robber, fatally wounding his own killer. He is the only officer to be killed in the line of duty in Woburn Police history. The last time an officer was shot while responding to call in Woburn was in the 1920s.

2.   A family tradition: Maguire carried on a family tradition by joining the Woburn Police Department in June 1977. His father, the late Thomas Maguire, served as Woburn Police chief from 1951 to 1978. Although Maguire had opportunities to retire early, the 34-year-veteran opted to continue doing a job he loved. He had recently put in paperwork for retirement and would have most likely worked his last shift in October 2012.

3.   Dr. Maguire: There was much more to Jack Maguire than the police department. A 1973 graduate of the University of Massachusetts-Lowell, he decided to go back to school in the 1990s. He earned a masters degree in business administration from Franklin Pierce College in 1998 and a second masters in science and criminal justice administration from Western New England College in 1999. That same year, he also earned a doctorate in philosophy from the American College of Metaphysical Theology.

4.   A lifelong learner: But even with one collegiate degree, two masters degrees and a doctorate, Jack Maguire never stopped learning. He often worked on the computer and learned to play several musical instruments, including the dulcimer, mandolin and bass guitar. He had recently started learning to cook. 

5.   A family man: Jack Maguire, who celebrated his 60th birthday just three days before he died, was a devoted family man, according to friends and colleagues. He was married to his wife, Desiree, for 23 years and had three adult children, Bryan, Sean and Tara. He enjoyed spending time with his family at their second home in Monson, ME, and traveling to places like Old Orchard Beach, Lake George and Montreal.