Roll of Honor
Incident
Trooper Daniel O'Brien drowned while performing rescue operations in East Matunuck during Hurricane Carol. Trooper O'Brien was near Succotash Road, informing residents of the oceanfront homes to evacuate when rapidly rising water crippled his patrol car. While helping a citizen, a large wave separated the two and washed Trooper O'Brien away. His abandoned patrol car was found with just the siren sticking out of the water and his body was found lying face down in debris near Post Road in the marsh in East Matunuck. Trooper O'Brien was a U.S. Army veteran of the Korean War and had served with the Rhode Island State Police for three years. He was survived by his parents, three brothers, one sister, and a fiancee. He was posthumously awarded the agency's State Police Service Ribbon.
Survivors
He was survived by his parents, three brothers, one sister, and a fiancee.
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
BO-US-RI-653079FD- 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.
Are you family? This record can be claimed and maintained by those who knew Daniel. Claim this record.
This page is permanent and free. No fee to view it, no advertising, no tracking, and no account required. It will not be taken down.
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.
Trooper O'Brien gave the Rhode Island State Police 3 years.
Thank you for your service to the people of Rhode Island, and 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
Daniel L. O'Brien served in the United States military before joining law enforcement. Full service record available on salute.nw.
Trooper Daniel L. O'Brien is one of 10,088 officers lost to accidents in the line of duty across the full record of this memorial — 31% of all 32,508 officers honored here.
In RI, 23 of 55 officers were lost to accidents in the line of duty — 41.8% of this state's fallen. That is 10.8 percentage points above the national rate of 31%.
At Rhode Island State Police, 5 of 7 officers on record were lost to accidents in the line of duty — 71.4% of this agency's fallen.
National Cause Distribution
How Accident compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. Daniel L. O'Brien's cause is highlighted.
How Daniel L. O'Brien Compares
When Accident Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Accident deaths across the full memorial record. Daniel L. O'Brien is highlighted in Aug.
Incident Location
Others Who Wore This Badge
6 officers from Rhode Island State Police are honored on badge.nw.
