Roll of Honor

Prev Next

Patrolman

William A. O'Connor

Chicago Police Department — Chicago, IL

Felonious Veteran

End of Watch June 4, 1928

Age 32

Tour of Duty 9 yrs

Badge 3470

The Vigil Panel 55 ›

Gender Male

Incident Service The Sacrifice Department 570

Incident

Patrolman William A. O'Connor was shot and mortally wounded when he walked in on three men robbing a soft drink parlor at 7135 South Halsted Street. In an exchange of gunfire Patrolman O'Connor was hit once in the head. He died the next day at Englewood Hospital. The three suspects, ages 21,21, and 22 were arrested 12 days later. They were found to be responsible for over two dozen other robberies. All three were convicted of Patrolman O'Connor's murder. Two were sentenced to 50 years in prison on August 9th, 1928, and the other to 20 years. The shooter was returned to court two months later to testify in other matters. He managed to slip out of a room he was being held in and escape. He was captured three years later in Las Vegas, New Mexico. The man sentenced to 50 years was paroled in 1950. Patrolman O'Connor was survived by his wife, mother, and five brothers. Four of his brothers are police officers. He served 18 months in France during World War I.

Survivors

Patrolman O'Connor was survived by his wife, mother, and five brothers.

In Our Keeping

Permanent identifier: BO-US-IL-25CE41C2
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.

Are you family? This record can be claimed and maintained by those who knew William. Claim this record.

This page is permanent and free. No fee to view it, no advertising, no tracking, and no account required. It will not be taken down.

Tributes

I served 1985 to 1993. You served too, before the badge - different uniform, same idea. You go where you are sent and you do not get to pick the call.
Patrolman O'Connor gave the Chicago Police Department 9 years.
Thank you for your service to the Chicago community, and for your service before it. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, brother.

— 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 June 4, 1928

Tour of Duty 9 yrs

Age 32

Badge Number 3470

Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious

Weapon Handgun; Revolver

Offender Sentenced to 50 years

Military Service

William A. O'Connor served in the United States military before joining law enforcement. Full service record available on salute.nw.

Patrolman William A. O'Connor 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