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Patrolman

Edward O'Dwyer

Pittsburgh Bureau of Police — Pittsburgh, PA
Felonious
United States flag Pennsylvania flag
End of Watch July 5, 1881
Age 25
Tour of Duty 3 mo
The Vigil Panel 7 ›
Gender Male
Incident Service The Sacrifice Memorials 1 Department 100

Incident

Patrolman Edward O'Dwyer succumbed to a stab wound sustained one week earlier while attempting to make an arrest stemming from an early disorderly conduct incident.

Patrolman O'Dwyer had attempted to arrest a 16-year-old boy for disorderly conduct when the boy's mother interfered and he was able to escape. He and another Patrolman then went to the family's home near the intersection of Bedford Avenue and Roberts Street to arrest him. The Patrolman while en route to the family home, encountered a crowd at the corner of Bedford Avenue and Ledlie Street. The boy's mother recognized Patrolman O`Dwyer and pointed him out to her husband as the officer who tried to arrest their son earlier that evening. Both parents started to threaten Patrolman O'Dwyer when the father attacked Patrolman O'Dwyer and stabbed him in the side. As Patrolman O'Dwyer partner went to his assistance, the boy's mother attempted to take his mace preventing him from knocking the knife out of her husband's hand. Patrolman O'Dwyer and his partner went to safety near the corner of Bedford Street and Devilliers Street to tend to his wound and then transported him to the Eleventh Ward Police Station. Patrolman O'Dwyer was then taken to his home on Liberty Street where his condition worsened, and he died one week later.

Patrolman O'Dwyer identified the boy's father on his deathbed and made a statement that he thought the boy's father was attempting to strike him with a brick when he rushed the boy's father. The pain he felt immediately after he thought he was struck with the brick, and never saw a knife.

The boy's father fled the scene to his brother's home on Anderson Street in Allegheny City, where he was arrested two days later. The boy's parents were both charged with Patrolman O'Dwyer's murder. On November 4, 1881, the boy's mother was acquitted of murder, and the father was found guilty of second-degree murder and sentenced to 12 years in prison. He died in the Riverside penitentiary hospital on March 4, 1887.

Patrolman O'Dwyer had served with the Pittsburgh Bureau of Police for only three months.

Survivors

He was survived by his father and siblings.

In Our Keeping

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Tributes

145 years is a long time for a name to go unread. Not today.
Patrolman O'Dwyer served with the Pittsburgh Bureau of Police.
Thank you for your service. Gone but never to be forgotten.

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

Agency

Department Pittsburgh Bureau of Police
Type Federal Agency
Location Pittsburgh, Allegheny County, PA
Platform Identity pittpd.fed.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch July 5, 1881
Tour of Duty 3 mo
Age 25
Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious
Cause Detail Stabbed
Weapon Edged weapon; Knife

The Sacrifice · Felonious

Edward 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.

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Compare against
I

Time

In 1881, 55 officers in the United States were killed feloniously, the 134th heaviest of 213 years on record. The heaviest was 1921, with 248.

Every year on record · United States
II

Who

Edward was 25. 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. Edward had served 0.2 years; the middle length of service was 6 years.

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

When

July holds 9.3% of these deaths in the United States; December holds the most, 9.4%. Tuesdays: 13.4%.

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 edged weapon; knife, in 0.8% of these deaths.

Every cause
Weapons recorded
V

His people

Pittsburgh Bureau of Police has 101 officers remembered here, Edward among them.

Across the years
VI

Where

Patrolman Edward O'Dwyer

Pittsburgh Bureau of Police · End of Watch July 5, 1881

Where the Name Is Cut

National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial · Panel 29-E

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