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Patrolman Lawrence Jupin succumbed to gunshot wounds received on May 10, 1999, when he was shot in the face, leg and hip, while backing up an officer investigating a suspicious man on Route 31. The man was dressed in camouflage and walking along the road at 0015 hours. While they were checking the man for warrants, he ran into the woods and Patrolman Jupin chased him. The suspect pulled out a .357 caliber handgun and Patrolman Jupin ordered him to drop it. The two exchanged gunfire and both were wounded. Patrolman Jupin was transported to a local hospital where he slipped into a coma shortly after the shooting. He remained in the coma until passing away on November 29, 2002. The suspect recovered but was found incompetent to stand trial and committed to a state hospital. In 2009 the killer was found not guilty by reason of insanity. Patrolman Jupin had been employed with the Westminster Police Department for eight years, and is survived by his parents.
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Patrolman Keith Nivala was killed when a fleeing motorist crashed into his patrol car on Route 2. Patrolman Nivala served as a part-time officer with the Westminster Police Department, and also served as a full-time officer with the Massachusetts Department of Corrections. He had served with the agency for six years.
