More than 21 years ago, Worcester Police Officer Peter Kneeland was severely injured when he was struck by a car at a police detail. This past weekend, he died in an institutional care facility having never recovered from the injuries he sustained.
Kneeland, 62, was injured on Sept. 18, 1991 after having worked 14 years as a police officer, according to local newspaper The Worcester Telegram and Gazette. The officer had been in institutional care since the incident with his family helping with the care, particularly by his mother, Susan, who died in 2010. Since then, his brother and sisters have taken care of him, according to the newspaper.
Retired Worcester Police Officer Peter Kneeland, who was severely injured while working a paid police detail on Cambridge Street on Sept. 18, 1991, died over the weekend. He worked 14 years as a police officer.
Worcester Deputy Police Chief Edward McGinn Jr. praised the family for the level of care he has been provided since suffering his injuries. McGinn told the newspaper the night the incident happened was, perhaps, one its worst as not only was Kneeland severely injured in the collision, another officer was hurt in a shooting incident.
The driver who hit Kneeland fled the scene initially, but was later caught and convicted of causing the collision.
Since the incident Kneeland had been confined to a wheelchair and unable to speak although he was alert and able to recognize family and friends, according to the newspaper. He was never able to return to active duty and officially retired in 1998.
Worcester police were planning a wake and funeral with an honor guard.
