Roll of Honor
Incident
Sergeant Brian McDonnell succumbed to wounds sustained two days earlier when a bomb exploded in the Park Police Station on February 16, 1970. The bomb exploded on the window sill of his office a few hours after riots were quelled. Hundreds of demonstrators protesting the Chicago conspiracy trial became unruly, causing over $165,00 in damage. Although Sergeant McDonnell's murder was never solved, it is believed the bomb was set by members of the domestic terrorist group Weather Underground. Members of the group shot and killed Sergeant Edward O'Grady and Officer Waverly Brown of the Nyack, New York, Police Department on October 20, 1981. Sergeant McDonnell's uncle, Sergeant Joseph Lacey, was shot and killed in the line of duty on December 30, 1956, while serving with the San Francisco Police Department. Sergeant McDonnell had served with the San Francisco Police Department for 20 years. He is survived by his son, daughter, parents, brother, and sister. His father was a former San Francisco Police sergeant.
Survivors
He is survived by his son, daughter, parents, brother, and sister.
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
BO-US-CA-AA67D264- Stewardship
- Maintained by NeuraWeb Global Inc.
- Added to badge.nw
- April 2, 2026
- Last updated
- July 23, 2026
Honored here by 1 sentinel - 1 tribute.
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Tributes
20 years. You could have gone home.
Sergeant McDonnell gave the San Francisco Police Department 20 years. Still answering calls at the end.
Thank you for your service to the San Francisco community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Sergeant McDonnell.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
Sergeant Brian V. McDonnell is one of 17,623 officers killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty across the full record of this memorial — 54.2% of all 32,508 officers honored here.
In CA, 974 of 1,837 officers were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 53% of this state's fallen. That is 1.2 percentage points below the national rate of 54.2%.
At San Francisco Police Department, 66 of 106 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 62.3% of this agency's fallen.
National Cause Distribution
How Felonious compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. Brian V. McDonnell's cause is highlighted.
How Brian V. McDonnell Compares
Offender Outcome
Unknown
When Felonious Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. Brian V. McDonnell is highlighted in Feb.
Weapons Used Against Officers
Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. Brian V. McDonnell was killed by explosives; bomb.
Incident Location
Others Who Wore This Badge
105 officers from San Francisco Police Department are honored on badge.nw. Showing the 16 most recent.
