Roll of Honor
Incident
Patrolman Edward O'Dwyer succumbed to a stab wound sustained one week earlier while attempting to make an arrest stemming from an early disorderly conduct incident.
Patrolman O'Dwyer had attempted to arrest a 16-year-old boy for disorderly conduct when the boy's mother interfered and he was able to escape. He and another Patrolman then went to the family's home near the intersection of Bedford Avenue and Roberts Street to arrest him. The Patrolman while en route to the family home, encountered a crowd at the corner of Bedford Avenue and Ledlie Street. The boy's mother recognized Patrolman O`Dwyer and pointed him out to her husband as the officer who tried to arrest their son earlier that evening. Both parents started to threaten Patrolman O'Dwyer when the father attacked Patrolman O'Dwyer and stabbed him in the side. As Patrolman O'Dwyer partner went to his assistance, the boy's mother attempted to take his mace preventing him from knocking the knife out of her husband's hand. Patrolman O'Dwyer and his partner went to safety near the corner of Bedford Street and Devilliers Street to tend to his wound and then transported him to the Eleventh Ward Police Station. Patrolman O'Dwyer was then taken to his home on Liberty Street where his condition worsened, and he died one week later.
Patrolman O'Dwyer identified the boy's father on his deathbed and made a statement that he thought the boy's father was attempting to strike him with a brick when he rushed the boy's father. The pain he felt immediately after he thought he was struck with the brick, and never saw a knife.
The boy's father fled the scene to his brother's home on Anderson Street in Allegheny City, where he was arrested two days later. The boy's parents were both charged with Patrolman O'Dwyer's murder. On November 4, 1881, the boy's mother was acquitted of murder, and the father was found guilty of second-degree murder and sentenced to 12 years in prison. He died in the Riverside penitentiary hospital on March 4, 1887.
Patrolman O'Dwyer had served with the Pittsburgh Bureau of Police for only three months.
Survivors
He was survived by his father and siblings.
In Our Keeping
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BO-US-PA-198C1983- Stewardship
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- Added to badge.nw
- April 2, 2026
- Last updated
- July 23, 2026
Honored here by 1 sentinel - 1 tribute.
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Tributes
145 years is a long time for a name to go unread. Not today.
Patrolman O'Dwyer served with the Pittsburgh Bureau of Police.
Thank you for your service. Gone but never to be forgotten.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
Patrolman Edward O'Dwyer 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 PA, 597 of 1,261 officers were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 47.3% of this state's fallen. That is 6.9 percentage points below the national rate of 54.2%.
At Pittsburgh Bureau of Police, 45 of 101 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 44.6% of this agency's fallen.
National Cause Distribution
How Felonious compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. Edward O'Dwyer's cause is highlighted.
How Edward O'Dwyer Compares
Offender Outcome
Sentenced to 12 years
When Felonious Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. Edward O'Dwyer is highlighted in Jul.
Weapons Used Against Officers
Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. Edward O'Dwyer was killed by edged weapon; knife.
Incident Location
Others Who Wore This Badge
100 officers from Pittsburgh Bureau of Police are honored on badge.nw. Showing the 16 most recent.
