Roll of Honor
Brian Grady McDonnell
Incident
Office Brian McDonnell was killed in the September 11, 2001, terrorist attacks while attempting to rescue the victims trapped in the World Trade Center.
Officer McDonnell was a US Army veteran and had served the New York City Police Department for 15 years, assigned to ESU Truck 1.
September 11, 2001
Police Officer Brian Grady McDonnell was killed at the World Trade Center on the morning of September 11, 2001. He was 38 years old.
He is one of 72 officers honored here, and one of 23 at New York City Police Department.
Seventy-two law enforcement officers from eight local, state, and federal agencies were killed at the World Trade Center on the morning of September 11, 2001, alongside 343 members of the New York City Fire Department and more than 2,800 civilians. A fourth aircraft went down in a field near Shanksville, Pennsylvania, where a law enforcement officer aboard was among the dead.
Officers went into the towers while everyone else was coming out. More than 25,000 people reached safety because they did.
Survivors
He is survived by his wife, son, and daughter.
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
BO-US-NY-BCC6A668- 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
You went in while everyone else was coming out.
Police Officer McDonnell gave the New York City Police Department 15 years.
Thank you for your service to the New York community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Police Officer McDonnell.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
Military Service
Brian Grady McDonnell served in the Army (1983â1986) before joining law enforcement.
Police Officer Brian Grady McDonnell 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 New York City Police Department, 382 of 1237 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 30.9% of this agency's fallen.
National Cause Distribution
How Felonious compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. Brian Grady McDonnell's cause is highlighted.
How Brian Grady McDonnell Compares
Offender Outcome
19 suicide attackers
When Felonious Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. Brian Grady McDonnell is highlighted in Sep.
Weapons Used Against Officers
Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. Brian Grady McDonnell was killed by aircraft; passenger jet.
Incident Location
Others Who Wore This Badge
1,236 officers from New York City Police Department are honored on badge.nw. Showing the 16 most recent.
