George Daniel Sullivan
Agency patch
Sergeant

George Daniel Sullivan

Felonious
End of Watch January 13, 1998
Age 43
Tour of Duty 18 yrs
The Vigil Panel 144 ›
Gender Male

Incident

Sergeant George Sullivan was found beaten to death next to his patrol car near an information kiosk on Center Street at approximately 1 a.m. Sergeant Sullivan was ambushed by a man who held a hatred for law enforcement officers. The man attacked him with a hatchet, fatally wounding him. His body was found by two university employees walking through campus. After murdering Sergeant Sullivan, the suspect took his gun belt and gun and fled the area. He was arrested two days later after a standoff with the Salt Lake City, Utah, Police Department. On Oct. 6, 1999, he was convicted of murder and sentenced to death. Sergeant Sullivan had served with the University of Nevada Reno Police Department for 18 years.

Survivors

He is survived by his wife and five children.

In Our Keeping

Permanent identifier
BO-US-NV-3DB00165
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.
Sergeant Sullivan gave the University of Nevada Reno Police Department 18 years.
Thank you for your service to the Reno community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Sergeant Sullivan.

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

Agency

Type Police Department
Location Reno, Washoe County, NV
Platform Identity unrpd.washoe.nv.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch January 13, 1998
Tour of Duty 18 yrs
Age 43
Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious
Weapon Edged weapon

Sergeant George Daniel Sullivan 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 NV, 82 of 146 officers were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 56.2% of this state's fallen. That is 56.2 percentage points above the national rate of 0%.

At University of Nevada Reno Police Department, 1 of 2 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 50% of this agency's fallen.

University of Nevada Reno Police Department
1
of 2 officers
50% Felonious
NV — Statewide
82
of 146 officers
56.2% Felonious
Nationwide
1
of 97,772 officers
0% Felonious

National Cause Distribution

How Felonious compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. George Daniel Sullivan's cause is highlighted.

Felonious
1 (0%)
Accident
1 (0%)
Illness
1 (0%)
Cardiac
1 (0%)
Undetermined
1 (0%)
Suicide
1 (0%)

How George Daniel Sullivan Compares

Age at Death
43
This officer
Avg for Felonious: 39.0 years
Years of Service
18
This officer
Avg for Felonious: 8.4 years

When Felonious Deaths Occur

Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. George Daniel Sullivan is highlighted in Jan.

Jan
1,392
Feb
1,295
Mar
1,373
Apr
1,516
May
1,504
Jun
1,442
Jul
1,587
Aug
1,517
Sep
1,491
Oct
1,371
Nov
1,447
Dec
1,624

Weapons Used Against Officers

Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. George Daniel Sullivan was killed by edged weapon.

Handgun
3,684
Gun
3,592
Gun; Unknown type
1,492
Shotgun
1,109
Rifle
935
Officer's handgun
909

Incident Location

Others Who Wore This Badge

1 officer from University of Nevada Reno Police Department are honored on badge.nw.