Bernard O'Rourke
Agency patch
Patrolman

Bernard O'Rourke

Accident
End of Watch August 1, 1913
Age 31
Tour of Duty 3 yrs
Badge 2802
The Vigil Panel 27 ›
Gender Male

Incident

Patrolman Bernard O'Rourke died of injured he received when he attempted to stop a runaway horse on 3rd Avenue near 4th Street in Brooklyn. At approximately 0915 hours Patrolman O'Rourke observed the runaway horse running on the sidewalk toward a group of playing children. Patrolman O'Rourke jumped on the horse and was able to change it's direction, but he lost his grip and he was dragged about fifty feet before being thrown to the street. Patrolman O'Rourke was removed to Methodist Hospital where he died at 1300 hours from his injuries, which included a fractured skull and internal injuries. Patrolman O'Rourke had served with the New York City Police Department for three years and was assigned to the 146th Precinct, the present day 78th Precinct.

Survivors

He was survived by his wife.

In Our Keeping

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Stewardship
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Added to badge.nw
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.
Patrolman O'Rourke gave the New York City Police Department 3 years.
Thank you for your service to the New York community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Patrolman O'Rourke.

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

Agency

Type Police Department
Location New York, NY
Platform Identity nypd.newyork.ny.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch August 1, 1913
Tour of Duty 3 yrs
Age 31
Badge Number 2802
Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Accident

The Sacrifice · Accident

Bernard is one of 8,275 officers lost to accidents in the United States, 30% 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 1913, 35 officers in the United States were lost to accidents, the 112th heaviest of 174 years on record. The heaviest was 1929, with 118.

Every year on record · United States
II

Who

Bernard was 31. Of the 7,718 lost to accidents in the United States whose age is recorded, half were between 29 and 46; the middle age was 36. Bernard had served 3 years; the middle length of service was 6 years.

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

When

August holds 9.5% of these deaths in the United States, more than any other month. Fridays: 15.1%.

By month
By day of the week
IV

How

Accident deaths account for 30% of all 27,551 deaths in the United States, the 2nd most common cause.

Every cause
Weapons recorded
V

His people

New York City Police Department has at least 120 officers remembered here, Bernard among them.

Across the years
VI

Where

Patrolman Bernard O'Rourke

New York City Police Department · End of Watch August 1, 1913

Where the Name Is Cut

National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial · Panel 12-W

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