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By Amy McKeever

September 6, 2018

DUXBURY — A fallen Duxbury police officer will be honored with a memorial stone and dedication ceremony outside the police department Saturday afternoon.

Officer Melvin Dyer, who was killed in the line of duty, will be honored on the 10th anniversary of his death with a ceremony outside the department headquarters at 11 a.m.

Dyer, a special police officer, was directing traffic at the Marshfield Fair Aug. 16, 2008, when he was struck by a vehicle that failed to stop at the intersection of Main and South River streets. Nine days later he succumbed to his injuries.

“This is something we had been planning for a couple of years now,” Chief Matthew Clancy said of the memorial.

The department previously had a plaque on display to honor Dyer, but Clancy said they felt they needed something more permanent.

“We find it is a more substantial and permanent reminder to residents and our staff of that sacrifice,” he said.

A member of the Marine Corps for more than 20 years, officer Dyer served in Vietnam and received multiple honors including the Purple Heart. He previously served with the Plymouth County Sheriff’s Office before joining the Duxbury department. Clancy said Dyer the only Duxbury police officer to be killed in the line of duty.

The stone will be located right outside the front door of the police department, 155 Mayflower St. There will be a reception after the ceremony in the department’s training room.

Clancy said state Sen. Pat O’Connor, state Rep. Josh Cutler, District Attorney Tim Cruz and members of the Dyer family will be speaking at the memorial.