As two police officers shot Wednesday night in East Boston continue to recover, more details are emerging about their lives of service.
Richard Cintolo is a 27-year veteran of the Boston Police Department and his family lives in Wakefield. And in Boston's Dorchester neighborhood, you can't seem to walk down some streets without running into someone who knows Matthew Morris, who has been with the department for 12 years.
Cintolo's family has a history of police service, necn has learned. His father is a retired officer and he has a sibling who is also a member of the Boston Police Department.
Neighbors tell necn that the Cintolos are a selfless family that cares deeply about the community.
"It's awful. Absolutely awful," neighbor Jay Sweeney said. "You know, his father was a police officer, too. It's just a nice family."
Morris grew up in Dorchester. He still lives there, as does his family.
"I knew him and his family as they were growing up," said neighbor Trish McClean. "They were always good kids."
Morris was shot in the leg during the shootout. The bullet that pierced his main artery could have caused him to bleed out if it weren't for his fellow officers, who rushed in to help him.
One of those officers applied a tourniquet, which police say likely saved Morris' life.
Both officers remain in critical but stable condition at Massachusetts General Hospital.
