Richard Francis O'Connor
Agency patch
Trooper

Richard Francis O'Connor

Oregon State Police — Salem, OR
Felonious
End of Watch May 8, 1956
Tour of Duty 9 yrs
The Vigil Panel 92 ›
Gender Male

Incident

Trooper Richard O'Connor was shot and killed when he attempted to serve a summons on a suspect at his home for driving without an operator's license. When Trooper O'Connor knocked on the door to the suspect’s house, the suspect opened the door and shot him with a .38 caliber handgun. The trooper was able to return fire, wounding the suspect before he died. The suspect died 19 days later from his wound. Trooper O'Connor had been with the Oregon State Police for nine years.

In Our Keeping

Permanent identifier
BO-US-OR-AE2B0E13
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.
Trooper O'Connor gave the Oregon State Police 9 years.
Thank you for your service to the people of Oregon. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Trooper O'Connor.

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

Agency

Department Oregon State Police
Location Salem, OR
Platform Identity osp.or.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch May 8, 1956
Tour of Duty 9 yrs
Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious
Weapon Handgun; .38 caliber
Offender Shot and killed by Ofc. O'Connor

Trooper Richard Francis 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 OR, 115 of 197 officers were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 58.4% of this state's fallen. That is 4.2 percentage points above the national rate of 54.2%.

At Oregon State Police, 16 of 31 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 51.6% of this agency's fallen.

Oregon State Police
16
of 31 officers
51.6% Felonious
OR — Statewide
115
of 197 officers
58.4% Felonious
Nationwide
17,623
of 32,508 officers
54.2% Felonious

National Cause Distribution

How Felonious compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. Richard Francis O'Connor's cause is highlighted.

Felonious
17,623 (54.2%)
Accident
10,088 (31%)
Illness
2,974 (9.1%)
Cardiac
1,306 (4%)
Undetermined
260 (0.8%)
Suicide
256 (0.8%)
vehicular
1 (0%)

How Richard Francis O'Connor Compares

Years of Service
9
This officer
Avg for Felonious: 8.5 years

Offender Outcome

Shot and killed by Ofc. O'Connor

When Felonious Deaths Occur

Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. Richard Francis O'Connor is highlighted in May.

Jan
1,392
Feb
1,295
Mar
1,373
Apr
1,517
May
1,505
Jun
1,443
Jul
1,587
Aug
1,516
Sep
1,553
Oct
1,371
Nov
1,447
Dec
1,624

Weapons Used Against Officers

Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. Richard Francis O'Connor was killed by handgun; .38 caliber.

Gun; Unknown type
5,083
Handgun
2,077
Shotgun
922
Officer's handgun
909
Automobile; Alcohol involved
530
Rifle
518