Richard James O'Brien

Chicago Police Department — Chicago, IL

Felonious

End of Watch February 9, 1982

Age 33

Tour of Duty 9 yrs

Badge 5337

The Vigil Panel 125 ›

Gender Male

Incident Service The Sacrifice Department 570

Incident

Patrolmen Richard James O'Brien and William Fahey were shot and killed during a traffic stop at about 2:00 pm, several hours after attending the funeral of Patrolman James Doyle. They had stopped a car they observed run a red light at the intersection of 81st Street and Morgan Street. Patrolman O'Brien, who was driving the squad car, approached the driver's side of the car while Patrolman William Fahey approached the passenger side. Patrolman Fahey ordered the passenger out and patted him down for a weapon. As he was attempting to handcuff the passenger, the man gained control of his .357 Magnum revolver, spun around, and fired at close range. The bullet struck Patrolman Fahey behind the left ear. The assailant then fired across the trunk of the car, striking Patrolman O'Brien in the left arm and hip. One of the men in the vehicle then disarmed Patrolman O'Brien and the two fled the scene. Help was first summoned to the scene when a voice was heard over the police radio system: "Emergency! Emergency! Two policemen have been shot at 81st and Morgan." It was later learned to be the voice of a witness to the shooting who ran to the squad car and grabbed the microphone when he saw the officers fall. Patrolman O’Brien died a short time after the shooting at Little Company of Mary Hospital in Evergreen Park. Patrolman Fahey died the following morning at 11:14 a.m. without regaining consciousness. Both officers were assigned to the Gang Crimes South Unit, however, they were not regular partners. Patrolman O'Brien's regular partner was off sick, and Patrolman Fahey's was filling in on a desk job for a furloughed policeman. The killers were apprehended, convicted, and sentenced to death. On January 10th, 2003, the governor at the time, George Ryan commuted their sentences, along with those of all 164 other inmates on death row, to life in prison. Patrolman Richard J. O’Brien was a 9-year veteran of the department. During his tenure, he received 6 honorable mentions and numer

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Permanent identifier: BO-US-IL-01104847
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 Chicago Police Department 9 years.
Thank you for your service to the Chicago community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Patrolman O'Brien.

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

Agency

Department Chicago Police Department

Location Chicago, IL

Platform Identity cpd.cook.il.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch February 9, 1982

Tour of Duty 9 yrs

Age 33

Badge Number 5337

Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious

Weapon Handgun; .357 caliber

Offender Death sentence commuted

Patrolman Richard James 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