Roll of Honor
Incident
Patrolman O'Donnell was shot and killed while investigating suspicious activity at a local pool hall that was closed. The owner who was still inside in the darkness was waiting for a burglar(s) who was breaking into his business almost every night. Both mistook each other for a burglar and and opened fire on each other. Patrolman O'Donnell was killed. The owner was not hurt.
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
BO-US-WV-249A3871- 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
I never knew you. I am standing here anyway.
Patrolman O'Donnell served with the Benwood Police Department.
Thank you for your service to the Benwood community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Patrolman O'Donnell.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
Patrolman John Dominick O'Donnell 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 WV, 54 of 232 officers were lost to accidents in the line of duty — 23.3% of this state's fallen. That is 7.7 percentage points below the national rate of 31%.
National Cause Distribution
How Accident compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. John Dominick O'Donnell's cause is highlighted.
How John Dominick O'Donnell Compares
When Accident Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Accident deaths across the full memorial record. John Dominick O'Donnell is highlighted in Jan.