About Tommy

Thomas J. Giunta, or "Tommy" as he better known was a Fall River Police Officer for 21 years before he was fatally injured in the line of duty on August 24, 1994.  Tommy was assisting in preparations for the Annual Holy Ghost Feast when he encountered a man who wrestled his weapon away from him and fatally shot him.

The community's outpouring of support over his loss spurred the Police Department's efforts to remember Tommy always and in a lasting and positive way through the Giunta Memorial Trust.  First a perpetual scholarship was proposed and the Giunta Road Race was born as its source of income.  This race became an Annual event and currently remains one of the primary funding sources for the scholarships.

In 2000, tragedy struck again when Detective Richard Magan was killed in the line of duty.  He was killed while rushing to assist another officer.  Detective Magan fell from a cliffside near the intersection of Central and Davol Streets.  The same support from the community poured in and in a similar manner the Magan Memorial Trust was created and able to provide scholarships in Detective Magan's Memory. 

In 2013, almost 20 years later the Giunta and Magan Trusts merged into the Fallen Officers Memorial Trust of the Fall River Police Department.  This new organization is a 501(c)(3). The Trust now concentrates its fundraising efforts almost exclusively on the Annual Road Race.

The Race honors not only Tommy and Rick but also our other fallen brothers as well: Officer John W. Ruggiero (d.1973) and two officers from the 1800's - Constable Gideon Manchester (d.1852) and Officer Louis T. Gormley (d. 1898).   The Giunta Road Race now supports up to 14 Fallen Officer Scholarships annually, 10 which are perpetual in nature. 

Your support of this long lasting and positive remembrance of our colleagues is vital to the success of our scholarships and charitable donations.  Please give as generously as you can! See the names of all our scholarship winners at https://www.frpd.org/scholarships.

Thank you!