Roll of Honor
Incident
Patrolman Bryan O'Donnell died from injuries he sustained when he fell from a fence while chasing several suspects.
Patrolman O'Donnell was manning a police booth at 74th Street in Brooklyn, near Bay Ridge High School. The school janitor notified him that several men were causing a disturbance and trying to gain admission to a dance at the High School. Patrolman O'Donnell responded to the school and located the subjects. The subjects fled on foot, and Patrolman O'Donnell chased. Patrolman O'Donnell climbed a fence in his attempt to apprehend the subject, but lost his footing and fell approximately twelve feet onto the pavement. He fractured his skull and died from the injury.
Patrolman O'Donnell served with the New York City Police Department for seven years. He was assigned to the 171st Precinct, the present-day 68th Precinct.
Patrolman O'Donnell was manning a police booth at 74th Street in Brooklyn, near Bay Ridge High School. The school janitor notified him that several men were causing a disturbance and trying to gain admission to a dance at the High School. Patrolman O'Donnell responded to the school and located the subjects. The subjects fled on foot, and Patrolman O'Donnell chased. Patrolman O'Donnell climbed a fence in his attempt to apprehend the subject, but lost his footing and fell approximately twelve feet onto the pavement. He fractured his skull and died from the injury.
I came upon Officer O’Donnell’s grave while visiting my grandfather, who is buried in the next plot and also coincidentally is a retired NYPD officer. I noticed a blue ribbon on top of Officer O’Donnell’s gravestone indicating that he is a fallen hero. Quite nice whoever does that. I relayed the information to my family to let them know that grandpa is buried next to a true hero. My grandfather, Thomas Donohue served from 1937 to 1957 and retired regular. Fidelis Ad Mortem
Ret. PO Thomas Roller NYPD February 16th, 2026
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- April 2, 2026
- Last updated
- July 23, 2026
Honored here by 1 sentinel - 1 tribute.
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Tributes
I never knew you. I am standing here anyway.
Patrolman O'Donnell gave the New York City Police Department 7 years.
Thank you for your service to the New York community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Patrolman O'Donnell.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
Patrolman Bryan L. O'Donnell is one of 10,088 officers lost to accidents in the line of duty across the full record of this memorial — 31% of all 32,508 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 1 percentage points below the national rate of 31%.
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. Bryan L. O'Donnell's cause is highlighted.
How Bryan L. O'Donnell Compares
When Accident Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Accident deaths across the full memorial record. Bryan L. O'Donnell is highlighted in Jun.
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.
