Patrick M. O'Brien
Agency patch
Patrolman

Patrick M. O'Brien

Chicago Police Department — Chicago, IL
Felonious
End of Watch August 3, 1881
Age 32
Tour of Duty 5 yrs 7 mo
Badge 188
The Vigil Panel 7 ›
Gender Male

Incident

Officer Patrick O'Brien succumbed to a gunshot wound sustained two days earlier when he and another officer was seriously wounded as they assisted in the arrest of a man who shot at a citizen. The shooter barricaded himself inside his home at 42 Rebecca Street. After Officer O'Brien demanded entry, the assailant opened fire with a revolver through a crack in the door, wounding both officers. Officer O'Brien died two days later. Other officers returned fire seriously wounding the suspect. The 19-year-old suspect was convicted of murder and sentenced to life. Officer O'Brien served with the Chicago Police Department for five and a half years.

In Our Keeping

Permanent identifier
BO-US-IL-A672EC13
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

145 years is a long time for a name to go unread. Not today.
Patrolman O'Brien gave the Chicago Police Department 5 years.
Thank you for your service to the Chicago community. Gone but never to be forgotten.

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

Agency

Location Chicago, IL
Platform Identity cpd.cook.il.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch August 3, 1881
Tour of Duty 5 yrs 7 mo
Age 32
Badge Number 188
Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious
Weapon Handgun
Offender Sentenced to life

Patrolman Patrick M. 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 IL, 842 of 1,318 officers were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 63.9% of this state's fallen. That is 9.7 percentage points above the national rate of 54.2%.

At Chicago Police Department, 396 of 571 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 69.4% of this agency's fallen.

Chicago Police Department
396
of 571 officers
69.4% Felonious
IL — Statewide
842
of 1,318 officers
63.9% Felonious
Nationwide
17,623
of 32,508 officers
54.2% Felonious

National Cause Distribution

How Felonious compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. Patrick M. O'Brien's cause is highlighted.

Felonious
17,623 (54.2%)
Accident
10,088 (31%)
Illness
2,974 (9.1%)
Cardiac
1,306 (4%)
Undetermined
260 (0.8%)
Suicide
256 (0.8%)
vehicular
1 (0%)

How Patrick M. O'Brien Compares

Age at End of Watch
32
This officer
Avg for Felonious: 39.0 years
Years of Service
5.6
This officer
Avg for Felonious: 8.5 years

Offender Outcome

Sentenced to life

When Felonious Deaths Occur

Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. Patrick M. O'Brien is highlighted in Aug.

Jan
1,392
Feb
1,295
Mar
1,373
Apr
1,517
May
1,505
Jun
1,443
Jul
1,587
Aug
1,516
Sep
1,553
Oct
1,371
Nov
1,447
Dec
1,624

Weapons Used Against Officers

Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. Patrick M. O'Brien was killed by handgun.

Gun; Unknown type
5,083
Handgun
2,077
Shotgun
922
Officer's handgun
909
Automobile; Alcohol involved
530
Rifle
518

Incident Location