David O'Brien

Milwaukee Police Department — Milwaukee, WI

Felonious

End of Watch November 24, 1917

Age 53

Tour of Duty 20 yrs

The Vigil Panel 33 ›

Gender Male

Incident Service The Sacrifice Department 68

Incident

Police Officer David O'Brien was killed when a bomb exploded in the department's Central Police Station. Officer O'Brien had served with the Milwaukee Police Department for 20 years. He was survived by his second wife, two sons, and his mother. He was predeceased by his first wife and infant daughter. He is buried in Calvary Cemetery and Mausoleum, Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Nine Milwaukee police officers and two civilians were killed when a bomb exploded inside of the Central Police Station at the intersection of Broadway and Oneida Street (modern-day Wells Street). The bomb had been found in an alley between a church and its adjacent mission house. A church member and citizen brought the bomb to the police station and gave it to Station Keeper Henry Deckert, who took it to the assembly room as roll call was starting. As the officers examined the device it exploded, killing eight officers inside of the room, one officer in the radio room above the assembly room, and two civilians who were inside of the station. No suspects were ever identified but it was believed at the time that the bomb had been placed at the church by anarchist sympathizers.

Survivors

He was survived by his second wife, two sons, and his mother.

In Our Keeping

Permanent identifier: BO-US-WI-DBFD12D2
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.
Police Officer O'Brien gave the Milwaukee Police Department 20 years. Still answering calls at the end.
Thank you for your service to the Milwaukee community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Police Officer O'Brien.

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

Agency

Department Milwaukee Police Department

Location Milwaukee, WI

Platform Identity mpd.milwaukee.wi.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch November 24, 1917

Tour of Duty 20 yrs

Age 53

Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious

Weapon Explosives; Bomb

Offender Case never solved

Police Officer David O'Brien 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 WI, 159 of 317 officers were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 50.2% of this state's fallen. That is 4 percentage points below the national rate of 54.2%.

At Milwaukee Police Department, 42 of 69 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 60.9% of this agency's fallen.

Milwaukee Police Department

of 69 officers

60.9% Felonious

WI — Statewide

159

of 317 officers

50.2% Felonious

Nationwide

17,623

of 32,508 officers

54.2% Felonious