Terry Thomas O'Connell

Jefferson County Sheriff's Department — Hillsboro, MO

Felonious

End of Watch April 5, 1978

Tour of Duty 10 yrs

The Vigil Panel 119 ›

Gender Male

Incident Service The Sacrifice Department 3

Incident

Deputy Sheriff O'Connell was shot and killed while conducting a traffic stop at the intersection of Highway 30 and Route Y near Dittmer. At 11:00 a.m., Deputy O'Connell pulled over a driver who was speeding. As he approached the car, the driver suddenly produced a handgun and shot him multiple times before fleeing. The suspect, who had narcotic convictions, was apprehended after a long manhunt and sentenced to life in prison. Deputy O'Connell had served with the Jefferson County Sheriff's Department for four months and previously served with the Fenton Police Department, St. Louis County Sheriff's Department, and Marlborough Police Department for over nine years.

Survivors

He was survived by his wife, two stepchildren, parents, sister, and brother.

In Our Keeping

Permanent identifier: BO-US-MO-C882E6D7
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.
Deputy Sheriff O'Connell gave the Jefferson County Sheriff's Department 10 years.
Thank you for your service to the Hillsboro community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Deputy Sheriff O'Connell.

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

Agency

Department Jefferson County Sheriff's Department

Type Other

Location Hillsboro, Jefferson County, MO

Platform Identity jcso.jefferson.mo.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch April 5, 1978

Tour of Duty 10 yrs

Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious

Weapon Handgun

Deputy Sheriff Terry Thomas O'Connell 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 MO, 516 of 813 officers were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 63.5% of this state's fallen. That is 63.5 percentage points above the national rate of 0%.

At Jefferson County Sheriff's Department, 2 of 4 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 50% of this agency's fallen.

Jefferson County Sheriff's Department

of 4 officers

50% Felonious

MO — Statewide

516

of 813 officers

63.5% Felonious

Nationwide

of 97,772 officers

0% Felonious