John J. O'Brien
Agency patch
Police Officer

John J. O'Brien

Saint Paul Police Department — Saint Paul, MN
Felonious
End of Watch April 16, 1981
Age 37
Tour of Duty 10 yrs
The Vigil Panel 124 ›
Gender Male

Incident

Police Officer John O'Brien was killed when a vehicle that was driving recklessly and fleeing other officers struck his patrol car, driving 50 mph at Forest and Geranium Avenues. The impact caused Officer O'Brien's vehicle to roll over and strike a house. Officer O'Brien's partner was critically injured. Two teenagers in the other car were killed, and one was severely injured. Officer O'Brien had been with the St. Paul Police Department for ten years. He was survived by his expectant wife and two children.

Survivors

He was survived by his expectant wife and two children.

In Our Keeping

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August 2, 2026
Last updated
August 2, 2026

Honored here by 1 tribute.

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Tributes

I never knew you. I am standing here anyway.
Police Officer O'Brien gave the Saint Paul Police Department 10 years.
Thank you for your service to the Saint Paul community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Police Officer O'Brien.

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

Agency

Type Police Department
Location Saint Paul, Ramsey County, MN
Platform Identity sainpd.ramsey.mn.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch April 16, 1981
Tour of Duty 10 yrs
Age 37
Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious
Weapon Automobile

The Sacrifice · Felonious

John is one of 15,743 officers killed feloniously in the United States, 57.1% of the 27,551 remembered there.

33,917 officers are remembered on this memorial. Each number below is one of them.

  1. See the roll
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Compare against
I

Time

In 1981, 126 officers in the United States were killed feloniously, the 39th heaviest of 213 years on record. The heaviest was 1921, with 248.

Every year on record · United States
II

Who

John was 37. Of the 14,220 killed feloniously in the United States whose age is recorded, half were between 31 and 47; the middle age was 38. John had served 10 years; the middle length of service was 6 years.

Age at death
Where he stood among them
Age by years of service
III

When

April holds 8.4% of these deaths in the United States; December holds the most, 9.4%. Thursdays: 14%.

By month
By day of the week
IV

How

Felonious deaths account for 57.1% of all 27,551 deaths in the United States, the most common cause. The weapon recorded was automobile, in 4.9% of these deaths.

Every cause
Weapons recorded
V

His people

Saint Paul Police Department has 33 officers remembered here, John among them.

VI

Where

Police Officer John J. O'Brien

Saint Paul Police Department · End of Watch April 16, 1981

Where the Name Is Cut

National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial · Panel 33-W

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