Roll of Honor
Incident
Chief O'Reilly was shot and killed around 1:15 p.m. at Main and 5th Streets by a suspect he had arrested the previous day for impersonating a Texas Ranger.
On the previous day, Chief O'Reilly disarmed a local preacher who was representing himself as a Texas Ranger. When Chief O'Reilly confirmed that the preacher was not a sworn peace officer, he arrested him and brought him before the county attorney who released the preacher without any charges. The suspect, minister of the First Baptist Church, was upset that Chief O'Reilly had taken his weapons and on the following day drove by and shot him in the head with a shotgun.
He was convicted and sentenced to five years in prison but was released after four years and was later pardoned in 1943.
Chief O'Reilly was survived by his wife and child.
Survivors
Chief O'Reilly was survived by his wife and child.
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
BO-US-TX-9EAB388F- 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
I never knew you. I am standing here anyway.
Chief of Police O'Reilly gave the Orange Police Department 3 years.
Thank you for your service to the Orange community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Chief of Police O'Reilly.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
Chief of Police Edward James O'Reilly 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 TX, 1,463 of 2,421 officers were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 60.4% of this state's fallen. That is 6.2 percentage points above the national rate of 54.2%.
At Orange Police Department, 8 of 8 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 100% of this agency's fallen.
National Cause Distribution
How Felonious compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. Edward James O'Reilly's cause is highlighted.
How Edward James O'Reilly Compares
Offender Outcome
Sentenced to 5 years
When Felonious Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. Edward James O'Reilly is highlighted in May.
Weapons Used Against Officers
Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. Edward James O'Reilly was killed by shotgun.
Incident Location
Others Who Wore This Badge
7 officers from Orange Police Department are honored on badge.nw.
