Roll of Honor
Incident
Patrolman Bernard O'Rourke died of injured he received when he attempted to stop a runaway horse on 3rd Avenue near 4th Street in Brooklyn. At approximately 0915 hours Patrolman O'Rourke observed the runaway horse running on the sidewalk toward a group of playing children. Patrolman O'Rourke jumped on the horse and was able to change it's direction, but he lost his grip and he was dragged about fifty feet before being thrown to the street. Patrolman O'Rourke was removed to Methodist Hospital where he died at 1300 hours from his injuries, which included a fractured skull and internal injuries. Patrolman O'Rourke had served with the New York City Police Department for three years and was assigned to the 146th Precinct, the present day 78th Precinct.
Survivors
He was survived by his wife.
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
BO-US-NY-0CED420C- Stewardship
- Maintained by NeuraWeb Global Inc.
- Added to badge.nw
- August 2, 2026
- Last updated
- August 2, 2026
Honored here by 1 sentinel - 1 tribute.
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Tributes
I never knew you. I am standing here anyway.
Patrolman O'Rourke gave the New York City Police Department 3 years.
Thank you for your service to the New York community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Patrolman O'Rourke.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
Patrolman Bernard O'Rourke is one of 1 officers lost to accidents in the line of duty across the full record of this memorial — 0% of all 97,756 officers honored here.
In NY, 645 of 2,147 officers were lost to accidents in the line of duty — 30% of this state's fallen. That is 30 percentage points above the national rate of 0%.
At New York City Police Department, 283 of 1237 officers on record were lost to accidents in the line of duty — 22.9% of this agency's fallen.
National Cause Distribution
How Accident compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. Bernard O'Rourke's cause is highlighted.
How Bernard O'Rourke Compares
When Accident Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Accident deaths across the full memorial record. Bernard O'Rourke is highlighted in Aug.
Incident Location
Others Who Wore This Badge
1,236 officers from New York City Police Department are honored on badge.nw. Showing the 16 most recent.
