Sidney A. O'Connor

Detroit Police Department — Detroit, MI

Felonious

End of Watch January 17, 1956

Age 28

Tour of Duty 3 yrs

Badge 771

The Vigil Panel 91 ›

Gender Male

Incident Service The Sacrifice Department 249

Incident

Officer O'Connor was shot and killed when he and his partner responded to a robbery at a local bar. When they arrived at Piccadilly Bar on the 5700 block of Cass Avenue, they were informed the suspect was inside. They entered the building and observed four men standing at the bar. One of the men, a prison parolee, suddenly turned and opened fire, striking Officer O'Connor. Both officers returned fire and killed the suspect. Officer O'Connor had served with the Detroit Police Department for 3 years. He was posthumously awarded the department's Medal of Valor.

Survivors

Officer O'Connor was survived by his wife, daughter, and son.

In Our Keeping

Permanent identifier: BO-US-MI-1248645E
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.
Police Officer O'Connor gave the Detroit Police Department 3 years.
Thank you for your service to the Detroit community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Police Officer O'Connor.

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

Agency

Department Detroit Police Department

Location Detroit, MI

Platform Identity detpd.wayne.mi.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch January 17, 1956

Tour of Duty 3 yrs

Age 28

Badge Number 771

Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious

Weapon Gun; Unknown type

Offender Shot and killed

Police Officer Sidney 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 MI, 426 of 718 officers were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 59.3% of this state's fallen. That is 5.1 percentage points above the national rate of 54.2%.

At Detroit Police Department, 177 of 250 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 70.8% of this agency's fallen.

Detroit Police Department

177

of 250 officers

70.8% Felonious

MI — Statewide

426

of 718 officers

59.3% Felonious

Nationwide

17,623

of 32,508 officers

54.2% Felonious