Joseph M. O'Connor

Spokane County Sheriff's Dept. — Spokane, WA

Felonious

End of Watch August 13, 1961

Age 38

Tour of Duty 1 yrs

The Vigil Panel 96 ›

Gender Male

Incident Service The Sacrifice Department 4

Incident

Deputy Joseph O'Connor was struck and killed by a drunk driver while directing traffic on I-90 three miles east of Spokane at 4:30 am. The drunk driver entered the accident scene at a high rate of speed and struck Deputy O'Connor, throwing him 300 feet and killing him instantly. The 24-year-old subject was apprehended, convicted of negligent homicide, and sentenced to 20 years in prison. Deputy O'Connor had served with the Spokane County Sheriff's Department for one year. He was survived by his wife and three children. In 2023, The Argonne/Mullen overpass was renamed in honor of Deputy Joseph M. O'Connor.

Survivors

He was survived by his wife and three children.

In Our Keeping

Permanent identifier: BO-US-WA-342CA7DB
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

You barely got started.
Deputy Sheriff O'Connor gave the Spokane County Sheriff's Office 1 year.
Thank you for your service to the Spokane community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Deputy Sheriff O'Connor.

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

Agency

Department Spokane County Sheriff's Dept.

Location Spokane, WA

Platform Identity scso.spokane.wa.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch August 13, 1961

Tour of Duty 1 yrs

Age 38

Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious

Weapon Automobile; Alcohol involved

Offender Sentenced to 20 years

Deputy Sheriff Joseph M. 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 WA, 187 of 339 officers were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 55.2% of this state's fallen. That is 1 percentage points above the national rate of 54.2%.

At Spokane County Sheriff's Dept., 2 of 5 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 40% of this agency's fallen.

Spokane County Sheriff's Dept.

of 5 officers

40% Felonious

WA — Statewide

187

of 339 officers

55.2% Felonious

Nationwide

17,623

of 32,508 officers

54.2% Felonious