Roll of Honor
Incident
Patrolman John O'Donnell and Patrolman Clarence Fraker were killed in an automobile crash while responding to a call. They were traveling west on East 25th Avenue with lights and sirens activated. As they entered the intersection of 25th Avenue and Marion Street, a vehicle traveling north on Marion failed to stop. The police cruiser was hurled 65 feet and overturned. Patrolman O'Donnell was transported to Denver General Hospital where he died of a skull fracture. Patrolman Fraker was taken to Presbyterian Hospital and succumbed to his injuries the next day. The driver was charged with driving under the influence and failing to yield the right of way. Patrolman O'Donnell had served with the Denver Police Department for five years.
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
BO-US-CO-8CD419C5- 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.
Patrolman O'Donnell gave the Denver Police Department 5 years.
Thank you for your service to the Denver community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Patrolman O'Donnell.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
Patrolman John J. O'Donnell is one of 10,088 officers lost to accidents in the line of duty across the full record of this memorial — 31% of all 32,508 officers honored here.
In CO, 101 of 360 officers were lost to accidents in the line of duty — 28.1% of this state's fallen. That is 2.9 percentage points below the national rate of 31%.
At Denver Police Department, 16 of 74 officers on record were lost to accidents in the line of duty — 21.6% of this agency's fallen.
National Cause Distribution
How Accident compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. John J. O'Donnell's cause is highlighted.
How John J. O'Donnell Compares
When Accident Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Accident deaths across the full memorial record. John J. O'Donnell is highlighted in Mar.
Incident Location
Others Who Wore This Badge
73 officers from Denver Police Department are honored on badge.nw. Showing the 16 most recent.
