Roll of Honor
Incident
Location: Iowa Weapon: Officer's handgun Offender: Apprehended
Night Policeman Tim O'Brien was shot and killed by two tramps he attempted to arrest when they jumped from a freight train as it stopped in Mason City, Iowa.
One of the subjects managed to grab Policeman O'Brien's revolver and shot him. Both men were apprehended.
Policeman O'Brien was a Union Army veteran of the Civil War.
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
BO-US-RR-5B1CD772- Stewardship
- Maintained by NeuraWeb Global Inc.
- Added to badge.nw
- August 2, 2026
- Last updated
- August 2, 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.
Night Policeman O'Brien served with the Chicago, Milwaukee, St. Paul and Pacific Railroad Police Department.
Thank you for your service to the Chicago 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
Timothy O'Brien served in the U.S. Army before joining law enforcement.
Night Policeman Timothy O'Brien is one of 17,559 officers killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty across the full record of this memorial — 53.9% of all 32,587 officers honored here.
In IL, 842 of 1,318 officers were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 63.9% of this state's fallen. That is 10 percentage points above the national rate of 53.9%.
At Chicago, Milwaukee, St. Paul and Pacific Railroad Police Department, 7 of 7 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 100% of this agency's fallen.
National Cause Distribution
How Felonious compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. Timothy O'Brien's cause is highlighted.
How Timothy O'Brien Compares
When Felonious Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. Timothy O'Brien is highlighted in Oct.
Weapons Used Against Officers
Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. Timothy O'Brien was killed by officer's handgun.
Incident Location
Military Service
Timothy O'Brien served in the U.S. Army before joining law enforcement.
Visit Timothy O'Brien’s page on salute.nw →
His full service record — units, decorations, where he served — is kept on salute.nw.
Others Who Wore This Badge
6 officers from Chicago, Milwaukee, St. Paul and Pacific Railroad Police Department are honored on badge.nw.
