Stoughton Coronavirus: Former Police Officer Dies

STOUGHTON, MA — Richard Dempsey Jr., 65, a former Stoughton police officer, died after contracting the new coronavirus. Dempsey succumbed to the illness on April 16 at Brockton Hospital.

Born on August 6, 1954 in Boston to Richard and Virginia Dempsey, Dempsey spent most of his life in town and was a graduate of Stoughton High School. Dempsey years as a patrolman in the police department. After retiring, Dempsey moved to Brockton six years ago.

In his free time, Dempsey loved to fish, ride his motorcycle and spend time with his family and friends, his obituary read. This included his longtime companion Joanne Czerwonka, of Brockton, his daughter Amy L. Tarani and her husband Robert, of Medford, and his Kristen L. Dempsey and her partner Bryan Hogan, of Brockton, and his sister Deborah Dempsey, of Easton. He was also the grandfather of Nicole and Ava Tarani and Rylie and Dylan Berg.

Due to the new coronavirus pandemic, funeral services at Farley Funeral Home in Stoughton were private, but a celebration of Dempsey's life will happen at a later date.