Roll of Honor

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Sergeant

James R. O'Connor IV

Philadelphia Police Department — Philadelphia, PA

Felonious

End of Watch March 13, 2020

Age 46

Tour of Duty 23 yrs

The Vigil Panel 171 ›

Gender Male

Incident Service The Sacrifice Department 377

Incident

Sergeant James O'Connor was shot and killed during a SWAT team operation to arrest a homicide suspect at 5:50 am.

The SWAT team was securing the home on Bridge Street, near Duffield Street, when the subject opened fire on them through a closed door on the second floor. Sergeant O'Connor was struck in the shoulder in an area not protected by his vest.

Sergeant O'Connor was transported to Temple University Hospital, where he succumbed to his wound 20 minutes later.

The subject who shot him pleaded guilty to murder and was sentenced to 75 years. Four others were arrested and charged with drug trafficking conspiracy, causing the death of Sergeant O’Connor by firearm, and multiple drug, gun, and violent offenses. Two were found guilty in 2025, and the other two are still awaiting trial.

Sergeant O'Connor had served with the Philadelphia Police Department for 23 years and had been a member of the SWAT team for 15 years. He is survived by his wife and two children. One of his sons also served with the Philadelphia Police Department.

He was posthumously promoted to the rank of Sergeant.

Survivors

He is survived by his wife and two children.

In Our Keeping

Permanent identifier: BO-US-PA-005E9E53
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

23 years. You could have gone home.
Sergeant O'Connor gave the Philadelphia Police Department 23 years. Still answering calls at the end.
Thank you for your service to the Philadelphia community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Sergeant O'Connor.

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

Agency

Department Philadelphia Police Department

Type Police Department

Location Philadelphia, Philadelphia County, PA

Platform Identity ppd.philadelphia.pa.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch March 13, 2020

Tour of Duty 23 yrs

Age 46

Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious

Cause Detail Gunfire

Weapon Gun; Unknown type

Sergeant James R. O'Connor IV 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 PA, 597 of 1,261 officers were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 47.3% of this state's fallen. That is 47.3 percentage points above the national rate of 0%.

At Philadelphia Police Department, 162 of 378 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 42.9% of this agency's fallen.

Philadelphia Police Department

162

of 378 officers

42.9% Felonious

PA — Statewide

597

of 1,261 officers

47.3% Felonious

Nationwide

of 97,772 officers

0% Felonious