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Brian V. McDonnell
Agency patch
Sergeant

Brian V. McDonnell

San Francisco Police Department — San Francisco, CA
Felonious
United States flag California flag
End of Watch February 18, 1970
Age 44
Tour of Duty 20 yrs
Badge 1001
The Vigil Panel 106 ›
Gender Male
Incident Media Service The Sacrifice Memorials 1 Department 105

Incident

Sergeant Brian McDonnell succumbed to wounds sustained two days earlier when a bomb exploded in the Park Police Station on February 16, 1970. The bomb exploded on the window sill of his office a few hours after riots were quelled. Hundreds of demonstrators protesting the Chicago conspiracy trial became unruly, causing over $165,00 in damage. Although Sergeant McDonnell's murder was never solved, it is believed the bomb was set by members of the domestic terrorist group Weather Underground. Members of the group shot and killed Sergeant Edward O'Grady and Officer Waverly Brown of the Nyack, New York, Police Department on October 20, 1981. Sergeant McDonnell's uncle, Sergeant Joseph Lacey, was shot and killed in the line of duty on December 30, 1956, while serving with the San Francisco Police Department. Sergeant McDonnell had served with the San Francisco Police Department for 20 years. He is survived by his son, daughter, parents, brother, and sister. His father was a former San Francisco Police sergeant.

Survivors

He is survived by his son, daughter, parents, brother, and sister.

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

20 years. You could have gone home.
Sergeant McDonnell gave the San Francisco Police Department 20 years. Still answering calls at the end.
Thank you for your service to the San Francisco community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Sergeant McDonnell.

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

Agency

Department San Francisco Police Department
Type Police Department
Location San Francisco, CA
Platform Identity sfpd.sf.ca.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch February 18, 1970
Tour of Duty 20 yrs
Age 44
Badge Number 1001
Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious
Weapon Explosives

The Sacrifice · Felonious

Brian 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.

  3. See the roll
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Compare against
I

Time

In 1970, 138 officers in the United States were killed feloniously, the 29th heaviest of 213 years on record. The heaviest was 1921, with 248.

Every year on record · United States
II

Who

Brian was 44. 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. Brian had served 20 years; the middle length of service was 6 years.

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

When

February holds 7.4% of these deaths in the United States; December holds the most, 9.4%. Wednesdays: 12.9%.

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 explosives, in 0.3% of these deaths.

Every cause
Weapons recorded
V

His people

San Francisco Police Department has 106 officers remembered here, Brian among them.

Across the years
VI

Where

Sergeant Brian V. McDonnell

San Francisco Police Department · End of Watch February 18, 1970

Where the Name Is Cut

National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial · Panel 26-E

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