Roll of Honor
Vincent Bernard O'Donnell
Incident
Police Officer Vincent O'Donnell succumbed to injuries sustained one month earlier when he singlehandedly arrested three subjects near the intersection of 17th Street near Lycoming Avenue.
He was on his foot patrol beat when he noticed three men standing in the intersection with guns in their hands. He commandeered a vehicle at the intersection of Germantown Avenue and Hunting Park Avenue and asked the driver to take him back to the intersection. As he was on the running board of the vehicle he ordered the men to "stick their hands up," at the same time one of the men made threatening comments back toward Officer O'Donnell.
As the man turned towards officer O'Donnell with his gun he was struck in the stomach with his blackjack knocking him almost unconscious. The second subject was then struck in the face with the butt of his service revolver as he lowered his gun. The third subject then attacked Officer O'Donnell from behind striking him in the stomach. He managed to strike the subject behind the ear with his blackjack with a backswing knocking the subject to the ground. The second subject was then struck in the jaw with Officer O'Donnell's blackjack rendering the subject unconscious. A female resident telephoned the local police district and told them that an officer was being murdered. Officers responded to the scene and placed the three subjects and a female accomplice under arrest.
It was later learned that they were waiting to rob an alcohol truck when spotted by Officer O'Donnell.
Because of his actions, Officer O'Donnell was commended for his bravery and awarded the Medal of Merit from the Philadelphia Public Ledger Newspaper. Officer O'Donnell died as a result of acute gangrenous appendicitis due to the blow to the stomach.
Officer O'Donnell was a U.S Army veteran of WWI and served with the Philadelphia Police Department for less than 12 years.
Survivors
He is survived by his wife and a son.
In Our Keeping
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BO-US-PA-3057FBAF- 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.
Police Officer O'Donnell gave the Philadelphia Police Department 11 years.
Thank you for your service to the Philadelphia community. Thank you 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
Vincent Bernard O'Donnell served in the United States military before joining law enforcement. Full service record available on salute.nw.
Police Officer Vincent Bernard O'Donnell 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 Philadelphia Police Department, 162 of 378 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 42.9% of this agency's fallen.
National Cause Distribution
How Felonious compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. Vincent Bernard O'Donnell's cause is highlighted.
How Vincent Bernard O'Donnell Compares
When Felonious Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. Vincent Bernard O'Donnell is highlighted in Sep.
Weapons Used Against Officers
Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. Vincent Bernard O'Donnell was killed by person.
Incident Location
Others Who Wore This Badge
377 officers from Philadelphia Police Department are honored on badge.nw. Showing the 16 most recent.
