John J. O'Brien

Saint Paul Police Department — Saint Paul, MN

Felonious

End of Watch April 16, 1981

Age 37

Tour of Duty 10 yrs

The Vigil Panel 124 ›

Gender Male

Incident Service The Sacrifice Department 32

Incident

Police Officer John O'Brien was killed when a vehicle that was driving recklessly and fleeing other officers struck his patrol car, driving 50 mph at Forest and Geranium Avenues. The impact caused Officer O'Brien's vehicle to roll over and strike a house. Officer O'Brien's partner was critically injured. Two teenagers in the other car were killed, and one was severely injured. Officer O'Brien had been with the St. Paul Police Department for ten years. He was survived by his expectant wife and two children.

Survivors

He was survived by his expectant wife and two children.

In Our Keeping

Permanent identifier: BO-US-MN-E616366A
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.
Police Officer O'Brien gave the Saint Paul Police Department 10 years.
Thank you for your service to the Saint Paul community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Police Officer O'Brien.

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

Agency

Department Saint Paul Police Department

Location Saint Paul, MN

Platform Identity sainpd.ramsey.mn.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch April 16, 1981

Tour of Duty 10 yrs

Age 37

Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious

Weapon Automobile

Offender vehicle pursuit

Police Officer John J. 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 MN, 173 of 293 officers were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 59% of this state's fallen. That is 4.8 percentage points above the national rate of 54.2%.

At Saint Paul Police Department, 20 of 33 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 60.6% of this agency's fallen.

Saint Paul Police Department

of 33 officers

60.6% Felonious

MN — Statewide

173

of 293 officers

59% Felonious

Nationwide

17,623

of 32,508 officers

54.2% Felonious