Donations are being collected for a police officer’s family after he was killed in a crash while working a paid detail on Dec. 6.
Waltham Police Officer Paul Tracey 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 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 Dec. 7 on two counts of manslaughter, armed robbery and other charges. 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 beach in 2018.
He leaves behind a wife, who also serves as a law enforcement officer, and two teenage children.
Waltham Police Officer Paul Tracey, 58, was killed in Waltham on Dec. 6 along with a National Grid worker.Waltham Police Department
The fundraiser is 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.” 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.
It’s goal is to raise $15,000. As of Friday morning, it had raised $350.
Another fundraiser is collecting money on behalf of all the victims and their families. It has raised $117,021 as of Friday morning.
And a GoFundMe has been created to benefit Jackson’s family.
A wake for the 58-year-old officer was on for Thursday at Our Lady Comforter of the Afflicted Church in Waltham, according to Brasco & Son Funeral Home. A funeral Mass is set for Friday at the same church at 10 a.m., after which Tracey will be buried with police honors at Mount Feake Cemetery in Waltham.
Those hoping to pay their respects to officer but can’t make it in person will be able to attend his funeral Friday morning online.
The Waltham Police Department said arrangements have been made to livestream the funeral, which will begin at 10 a.m. However, the livestream will start at 9:30 a.m.
