William O'Brien

Rochester Police Department — Rochester, NY

Felonious

End of Watch May 2, 1919

Tour of Duty 5 yrs

Badge 344

The Vigil Panel 37 ›

Gender Male

Incident Service The Sacrifice Department 16

Incident

Patrolman William O'Brien was shot and killed while investigating a burglary, at 290 Garson Avenue, at approximately 9:00 pm. Patrolman O'Brien responded to the scene on his police motorcycle and caught the man exiting the back door of the house. When he ordered the man to stop the subject fired a single round, striking Patrolman O'Brien in the chest. Despite being mortally wounded, Patrolman O'Brien was able to return fire but did not strike the man. The subject fled to the front of the house and dove through a window to escape. A special police officer who was working in the area due to a recent rash of burglaries heard the gunshots and also responded to the scene. He captured the suspect following a short foot pursuit. The suspect was convicted of Patrolman O'Brien's murder and sentenced to death. He was executed on July 29th, 1920. Patrolman O'Brien had served with the Rochester Police Department for five years and had previously served with the Rochester Fire Department.

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Permanent identifier: BO-US-NY-919C264C
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'Brien gave the Rochester Police Department 5 years.
Thank you for your service to the Rochester community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Patrolman O'Brien.

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

Agency

Department Rochester Police Department

Location Rochester, NY

Platform Identity rpd.monroe.ny.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch May 2, 1919

Tour of Duty 5 yrs

Badge Number 344

Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious

Weapon Gun; Unknown type

Offender Executed in 1920

Patrolman William 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 NY, 754 of 2,147 officers were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 35.1% of this state's fallen. That is 19.1 percentage points below the national rate of 54.2%.

At Rochester Police Department, 9 of 17 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 52.9% of this agency's fallen.

Rochester Police Department

of 17 officers

52.9% Felonious

NY — Statewide

754

of 2,147 officers

35.1% Felonious

Nationwide

17,623

of 32,508 officers

54.2% Felonious