Police Department Remembers Officer Jack Maguire

The Woburn Police Department is mourning one of its own tonight, as officials remember Officer John "Jack" Maguire who was Sunday night.

He is the only officer in Woburn Police history to be killed in the line of duty. The last time a Woburn officer was shot during a call was in the 1920s, according to authorities.

Maguire, 60, the son of former Woburn Police Chief Thomas J. Maguire, was a 34-year veteran who was working one of his last night-shifts when he responded to at Kohl's Sunday night.

"This is a terrible loss," said Police Chief Philip Mahoney Monday afternoon.

"We love this city and we love this community," said Mahoney, who spoke to media in front of a line of Woburn Police officers in full uniform at Woburn Police Station Monday. "Every officer behind me are our heroes… Our condolences are with the family."

Maguire's father served as Woburn Police chief from 1951 to 1978. Jack Maguire joined the force 34 years ago, continuing a long line of law enforcement tradition in his family.

He was married to his wife, Desiree, for 23 years and had two children, Bryan, 22, and Tara, 21. The family lives in Wilmington. 

According to Mahoney, Desiree Maguire was at Lahey Clinic with her husband, and left at approximately 10:30 p.m. to tell the children that their father had died in the line of duty.

Mahoney said Monday that Maguire had never fired his weapon during a call until Sunday night. Maguire exchanged gunfire with a suspect, and was shot four times. The suspect was also shot and killed by Woburn Police; his name has not been released.

Maguire is being remembered tonight as a man who loved his job, his family and was a laid-back man who could make people laugh. Mahoney said that Maguire could have retired early, but chose to continue serving the community on the Woburn Police force.

"Jack was getting ready to retire, and was going on days on Jan. 1," said Mahoney. "Next year was going to be his last year… He gave his all to this department."

"For doing that, he lost his life," said the chief.

Mayor Scott Galvin remembered Maguire as a "proud member" of the Woburn Police Department, who "served this city faithfully for over 30 years."

Galvin said the city is reminded today of the "tremendous sacrifice and risk that… police and fire take on every day they put on their uniforms."

"The city of Woburn is deeply saddened by the loss of one of its own," added Galvin. "We pledge our full effort to support the family and our department."

Funeral services have not been finalized for Maguire, but Mahoney reports that they will be held out of the McLaughlin-Dello Russo Funeral Home on Pleasant Street.