George O'Connor

Leadville Police Department — Leadville, CO

Felonious

End of Watch April 25, 1878

Age 29

Tour of Duty

The Vigil Panel 5 ›

Gender Male

Incident Service The Sacrifice Department 6

Incident

Marshal George O'Connor was shot and killed by a Leadville police officer he was attempting to discipline for gambling and frequenting dance houses. After Marshal O'Connor informed him he would request the city council to fire him, the man made plans to murder the marshal. Later in the evening he met Marshal O'Connor at a local saloon, and after exchanging words, the policeman shot him several times. The man then fled the scene, stole the county sheriff's horse, and departed town. Marshal O'Connor had served with the agency for only 3 weeks.

Survivors

He was survived by his wife and son.

In Our Keeping

Permanent identifier: BO-US-CO-115FB3EC
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

148 years is a long time for a name to go unread. Not today.
Marshal O'Connor served with the Leadville Police Department.
Thank you for your service to the Leadville community. Gone but never to be forgotten.

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

Agency

Department Leadville Police Department

Location Leadville, CO

Platform Identity lpd.lake.co.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch April 25, 1878

Tour of Duty

Age 29

Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious

Weapon Gun; Unknown type

Offender Not available

Marshal George O'Connor 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 CO, 235 of 360 officers were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 65.3% of this state's fallen. That is 11.1 percentage points above the national rate of 54.2%.

At Leadville Police Department, 5 of 7 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 71.4% of this agency's fallen.

Leadville Police Department

of 7 officers

71.4% Felonious

CO — Statewide

235

of 360 officers

65.3% Felonious

Nationwide

17,623

of 32,508 officers

54.2% Felonious