John J. O'Riley
Agency patch
Police Officer

John J. O'Riley

Accident
End of Watch October 21, 1939
Age 56
Tour of Duty 16 yrs
The Vigil Panel 76 ›
Gender Male

Incident

Officer O'Riley was killed while transporting a prisoner on the Coastal Highway just south of Savannah. The prisoner grabbed the steering wheel causing the truck they were in to crash into a tree. Officer O'Riley was killed and the prisoner was seriously injured. Officer O'Riley had served with the agency for 16 years.

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August 2, 2026
Last updated
August 2, 2026

Honored here by 1 tribute.

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Tributes

I never knew you. I am standing here anyway.
Police Officer O'Riley gave the Chatham County Police Department 16 years.
Thank you for your service to the Savannah community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Police Officer O'Riley.

— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993

Agency

Type Police Department
Location Savannah, Chatham County, GA
Platform Identity ccpd.chatham.ga.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch October 21, 1939
Tour of Duty 16 yrs
Age 56
Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Accident
Weapon Person

The Sacrifice · Accident

John is one of 8,275 officers lost to accidents in the United States, 30% of the 27,551 remembered there.

33,917 officers are remembered on this memorial. Each number below is one of them.

  1. See the roll
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Compare against
I

Time

In 1939, 61 officers in the United States were lost to accidents, the 72nd heaviest of 174 years on record. The heaviest was 1929, with 118.

Every year on record · United States
II

Who

John was 56. Of the 7,718 lost to accidents in the United States whose age is recorded, half were between 29 and 46; the middle age was 36. John had served 16 years; the middle length of service was 6 years.

Age at death
Where he stood among them
Age by years of service
III

When

October holds 9.1% of these deaths in the United States; August holds the most, 9.5%. Saturdays: 14.9%.

By month
By day of the week
IV

How

Accident deaths account for 30% of all 27,551 deaths in the United States, the 2nd most common cause. The weapon recorded was person, in 0.2% of these deaths.

Every cause
Weapons recorded
V

His people

Chatham County Police Department has 11 officers remembered here, John among them.

Police Officer John J. O'Riley

Chatham County Police Department · End of Watch October 21, 1939

Where the Name Is Cut

National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial · Panel 44-W

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