Roll of Honor
Incident
Patrolman Edward O'Donnell was struck by a vehicle and killed while attempting to flag down a possible motor vehicle violator on Forest Avenue. Patrolman O'Donnell had gotten out of his car to check business doors on Forest Avenue in the area of Dartmouth Street. According to witnesses, he stepped into the street from between two parked cars and blew his whistle to stop a passing car when he was struck by another car. A second car then ran over Officer O'Donnell. He was transported to Maine General Hospital, where he died at approximately 12:30 the next morning without regaining consciousness. After interviewing a witness and both drivers, it was determined that a combination of bad lighting, Officer O'Donnell's dark blue uniform, and his stepping into the road suddenly from between parked cars led to the crash and no charges were filed. Patrolman O'Donnell was a U.S. Navy veteran of WWI and had served with the Portland Police Department for 11 years.
Survivors
He was survived by his wife and daughter.
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
BO-US-ME-649469FC- 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 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'Donnell gave the Portland Police Department 11 years.
Thank you for your service to the Portland 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
Service Record
Incident Details
Military Service
Edward F. O'Donnell served in the United States military before joining law enforcement. Full service record available on salute.nw.
Patrolman Edward F. O'Donnell is one of 10,088 officers lost to accidents in the line of duty across the full record of this memorial — 31% of all 32,508 officers honored here.
In ME, 41 of 102 officers were lost to accidents in the line of duty — 40.2% of this state's fallen. That is 9.2 percentage points above the national rate of 31%.
At Portland Police Department, 2 of 5 officers on record were lost to accidents in the line of duty — 40% of this agency's fallen.
National Cause Distribution
How Accident compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. Edward F. O'Donnell's cause is highlighted.
How Edward F. O'Donnell Compares
When Accident Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Accident deaths across the full memorial record. Edward F. O'Donnell is highlighted in Jul.
Incident Location
Others Who Wore This Badge
4 officers from Portland Police Department are honored on badge.nw.
