Michael O'Brien
Agency patch
Patrolman

Michael O'Brien

Chicago Police Department — Chicago, IL
Felonious
End of Watch April 3, 1887
Age 43
Tour of Duty 14 yrs 10 mo
Badge 216
The Vigil Panel 9 ›
Gender Male

Incident

Patrolman Michael O'Brien was shot and killed as he attempted to place an offender under arrest at the intersection of Archer Avenue and Quinn Street. He and his partner dispersed a crowd causing a disturbance behind a tavern. During a search for concealed weapons, one of the men resisted and made his escape. Shortly thereafter, Patrolman O'Brien and his partner observed the offender walking down the alley. After ignoring an order to halt, the gunman fired one shot, striking Patrolman O'Brien. Before dying Patrolman O'Brien identified the suspect, who was arrested. The suspect was convicted of Patrolman O'Brien's murder and sentenced to 17 years in prison. The man insisted that he was innocent and claimed it was another man who shot Patrolman O'Brien. A .32 caliber pistol was found on him at the time he was arrested, yet it was determined that Patrolman O'Brien was shot with a .44 caliber pistol. On May 12th, 1888, the man who the suspect claimed shot Patrolman O'Brien, shot and seriously wounded another Chicago police officer. He was sentenced to 10 years in prison. On August 9th, 1890, he told prison officials that he was the man who shot Patrolman O'Brien. The first suspect was released six days later. The second suspect was charged with Patrolman O'Brien's murder. He was also charged with four other murders, numerous assaults, burglaries, and robberies that he admitted to. Patrolman O'Brien had served with the Chicago Police Department for less than 15 years and was assigned to the Deering Street Station.

Survivors

He was survived by his 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

139 years is a long time for a name to go unread. Not today.
Patrolman O'Brien gave the Chicago Police Department 14 years.
Thank you for your service to the Chicago community. Gone but never to be forgotten.

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

Agency

Type Police Department
Location Chicago, Cook County, IL
Platform Identity cpd.cook.il.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch April 3, 1887
Tour of Duty 14 yrs 10 mo
Age 43
Badge Number 216
Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious
Weapon Handgun

The Sacrifice · Felonious

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

34,117 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 1887, 42 officers in the United States were killed feloniously, the 146th heaviest of 213 years on record. The heaviest was 1921, with 248.

Every year on record · United States
II

Who

Michael was 43. 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. Michael had served 14.8 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%. Sundays: 15.2%.

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 handgun, in 23.4% of these deaths.

Every cause
Weapons recorded
V

His people

Chicago Police Department has at least 120 officers remembered here, Michael among them.

Across the years
VI

Where

Patrolman Michael O'Brien

Chicago Police Department · End of Watch April 3, 1887

Where the Name Is Cut

National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial · Panel 60-E

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