Conroy G. O'Brien

Kansas Highway Patrol — Topeka, KS

Felonious

End of Watch May 24, 1978

Age 26

Tour of Duty 4 yrs

Badge 108

The Vigil Panel 120 ›

Gender Male

Incident Service The Sacrifice Department 10

Incident

Trooper Conroy O'Brien was shot and killed during a traffic stop on the Kansas Turnpike near Matfield Green. During a struggle with the three suspects, they obtained his service weapon. One of the subjects then walked him to a nearby ditch and pistol-whipped him, fracturing his skull. The man then shot him twice in the head before spitting on him. The subjects were later apprehended after a shootout with other officers. The suspects were all wanted for a string of armed robberies at the time of the shooting. One suspect turned state's evidence and served seven years, and another died in prison in 2009. The third man was sentenced to serve two consecutive life terms plus nine years. He was granted parole in 2025, but the decision was revoked after it was criticized. Trooper O'Brien had served with the Kansas Highway Patrol for four years. He was survived by his expectant wife. His daughter was born a few months later.

Survivors

He was survived by his expectant wife.

In Our Keeping

Permanent identifier: BO-US-KS-06C7BEA2
Stewardship: Maintained by NeuraWeb Global Inc.
Added to badge.nw: 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.
Trooper O'Brien gave the Kansas Highway Patrol 4 years.
Thank you for your service to the people of Kansas. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Trooper O'Brien.

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

Agency

Department Kansas Highway Patrol

Type Highway Patrol

Location Topeka, KS

Platform Identity khp.ks.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch May 24, 1978

Tour of Duty 4 yrs

Age 26

Badge Number 108

Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious

Weapon Officer's handgun

Trooper Conroy G. O'Brien is one of 1 officers killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty across the full record of this memorial — 0% of all 97,772 officers honored here.

In KS, 237 of 335 officers were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 70.7% of this state's fallen. That is 70.7 percentage points above the national rate of 0%.

At Kansas Highway Patrol, 5 of 11 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 45.5% of this agency's fallen.

Kansas Highway Patrol

of 11 officers

45.5% Felonious

KS — Statewide

237

of 335 officers

70.7% Felonious

Nationwide

of 97,772 officers

0% Felonious