Waltham Police Officer Paul Tracey’s funeral held at church where he married his soulmate

When Waltham Police Officer Paul Tracey stopped a woman for speeding, neither of them knew their lives would be forever changed.

Although it wouldn't be for a few more years before their paths crossed again, Tracey and Kristen, the woman he once stopped for speeding, would eventually get married on Aug.

18, 2007.

The couple also baptized their two children at Our Lady Comforter of the Afflicted Church in Waltham. And on Friday, family, friends, police officers and the community gathered at the church for Tracey's funeral.

"They have a rich connection to Waltham, a rich connection to this parish and a rich connection to the faith," said the Rev. James DiPerri. "And that's what gets us through life."

Tracey[1] and National Grid employee Roderick Jackson, of Cambridge, were killed Dec.

6 when 54-year-old Woodsville, New Hampshire, resident Peter Simon drove a truck into a National Grid work site on Totten Pond Road[2] where the officer was working a paid detail, authorities said. Two other workers were also hurt.

Simon is also accused of pulling a knife on another Waltham officer and stealing his cruiser during the incident. He was arraigned[4] Dec.

7 on two counts of manslaughter, armed robbery and other charges[5]. He pleaded not guilty and was held without bail.

Tracey was part of the Waltham Police Department for 28 years.

He was previously recognized for saving the life of a woman who was overdosing on a Cape Cod[6] beach in 2018.

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A wake for the 58-year-old officer was on for Thursday at Our Lady Comforter of the Afflicted Church in Waltham. A funeral Mass was held Friday at the same church at 10 a.m., after which Tracey will be buried with police honors at Mount Feake Cemetery in Waltham.

DiPerri remembered Tracey as "very energetic" and passionate.

"He was a man that was very committed and dedicated to the police force. He was very present in the community.

And he was a family man," said DiPerri. "He gave it his best. He had his own perspective. He is his own person.

And he was a man of the community."

DiPerri hoped Friday's service would help people move forward.

"To know we are supported, loved by God, by the outreach of others to help one another in times of need," he said.

Paul Tracey

Waltham Police Officer Paul Tracey, 58, was killed in Waltham on Dec.

6 along with a National Grid worker.Waltham Police Department

A fundraiser[8] through Running 4 Heroes, which raises money after a child runs a mile for "every First Responder who makes the ultimate sacrifice in the line of duty," is also being held for the officer's family. The runner for Tracey was identified on the website as Zechariah. He ran on Dec.

12.

"Over the next two weeks, 100% of the funds we raise as part of this beneficiary fundraising effort will be given back to the Tracey family. Your support truly matters during this difficult time, and we thank you for your contribution towards this effort," the website states.

Its goal is to raise £15,000. As of Friday afternoon, it had raised more than £900.

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Waltham police officer, National Grid worker killed in crash

Another fundraiser is collecting money on behalf of all the victims[9] and their families.

It has raised £117,021 as of Friday morning.

A GoFundMe has also been created to benefit Jackson's family[11].

References

  1. ^ Tracey (www.masslive.com)
  2. ^ drove a truck into a National Grid work site on Totten Pond Road (www.masslive.com)
  3. ^ Man charged in fatal Waltham crash had been involved in other serious crashes (www.masslive.com)
  4. ^ He was arraigned (www.masslive.com)
  5. ^ charges (www.masslive.com)
  6. ^ Cape Cod (www.masslive.com)
  7. ^ GoFundMe raising money for family of National Grid worker killed in Waltham (www.masslive.com)
  8. ^ fundraiser (running4heroes.org)
  9. ^ fundraiser is collecting money on behalf of all the victims (www.masslive.com)
  10. ^ Fundraising effort hopes to help Waltham Police Officer Paul Tracey's family (www.masslive.com)
  11. ^ GoFundMe has also been created to benefit Jackson's family (www.masslive.com)