Boston police officer dead after being found outside in snowstorm

Officer John O’Keefe had been out in the cold for some time, officials said

January 31, 2022 11:40 AM

snowstorm january 2022 scituate mass — A homeowner uses a snow blower to clear snow in front of his home in Scituate, Massachusetts on Sunday, Jan. 30, 2022, after a powerful nor’easter brought over a foot of snow to parts of the state.

By Will Katcher
masslive.com

CANTON, Mass. — Authorities have identified John O’Keefe, a 16-year veteran of the Boston Police Department, as the officer who died after being found outside a Canton home during the early hours of Saturday’s snowstorm, reports said.

officer john o'keefe — Boston Police Officer John O’Keefe was pronounced dead after he was found outside his Canton, Massachusetts, home during a powerful nor’easter.

According to the Norfolk District Attorney’s office, O’Keefe was found Saturday morning outside a Fairview Road home of people he knew. He appeared to have been outside in the cold for an extended period of time and was brought to Good Samaritan Hospital, where he was pronounced dead, David Traub, spokesperson for the district attorney, told the Boston Globe.

The Boston Police Department confirmed O’Keefe’s death in a statement.

“John will be greatly missed by his friends and colleagues here at the Boston Police Department as we send our heartfelt condolences to his family, and loved ones during this difficult time,” Superintendent-in-Chief Gregory Long said.

The weekend snowstorm, which barraged parts of Massachusetts with blizzard conditions Saturday, left more than 20 inches of snow in Canton. In nearby Stoughton, the storm dropped more than 30 inches of snow.

Officials are still investigating the cause of O’Keefe’s death. The Office of the Chief Medical Examiner will conduct an autopsy Monday, Traub told the Globe.