WINTHROP — It was a deep sadness that the Winthrop Police Department announces that active duty Police Detective Michael “Mike” Delehanty died suddenly on Thursday after suffering a cardiac incident.
Detective Delehanty was 58 and had served as a police officer for 25 years and as a union electrical worker for more than 36 years.
Detective Delehanty was known as a strong yet gentle street cop with a fierce loyalty to the citizens of Winthrop. He earned a reputation for always extending a helping hand to anyone in need.
In recent years, Detective Delehanty served as the Winthrop Police Prosecutor at East Boston District Court. He was also a dedicated volunteer who was recently given a community service award for his more than 20 years of service to Winthrop Advocacy, Resources, Community (WINARC) and for organizing the annual Driscoll-Mahegan Track and Field event in town. He was a natural organizer and was the department’s go-to person for event planning and community events.
Detective Delehanty was the long-term president of the Winthrop Police Association, a member of the Winthrop Yacht Club, the Winthrop Patrolman’s Union and the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers Local #103.
He also earned a reputation as a “worker” in the department, often working long hours to ensure he could provide a good life for his six children and one grandson.
The Delehanty family has a long history of public service in Massachusetts. Four of the seven Delehanty children currently work in law enforcement, including Winthrop Police Chief Terence M. Delehanty, Winthrop Police Officer Sean Delehanty and Natick Police Detective Kevin Delehanty.
Visiting hours have been set for Monday, Jan. 28 from 4-8 p.m. at the Ernest P. Caggiano & Son Funeral Home, 147 Winthrop St. in Winthrop. A funeral mass will be said at St. John the Evangelist Church, 320 Winthrop St., on Tuesday at 9 a.m. with burial to follow at the Winthrop Cemetery on Cross Street.
There will be a police officers’ walk-through at 8:30 a.m. Tuesday prior to the funeral, followed by a law enforcement marching procession to the church and a second marching procession to the cemetery.
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