Incident
Officer Daniel O'Connell was shot and killed while investigating a burglary while off duty at 0230 hours. He had been informed by a woman that two suspicious men were near a home on Dayton Avenue. Officer O'Connell was shot with a .32 caliber handgun while investigating the men. His body was found at approximately 0800 hours. On October 23, 1883 two suspects were pardoned from Chester Illinios State Prison in order that they could be taken back to Minnesota to stand trial for the murder of Officer O'Connell. They had been developed as suspects by St. Paul Police Department detective John Bresset through one of his informants . The mayor of St. Paul and the Ramsey County Attorney got the Governor of Illinois to pardon them from prior burglary convictions in Illinois in order for them to be brought back to St Paul. On Oct 24, 1883 both men plead guilty to the murder of Officer O'Connell and were sentenced to life in Stillwater Prison. Officer O'Connell had served with the agency for nearly one month.
Survivors
He was survived by his wife, son, and daughter.
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
144 years is a long time for a name to go unread. Not today.
Police Officer O'Connell served with the Saint Paul Police Department.
Thank you for your service to the Saint Paul community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
The Sacrifice · Felonious
Saint Paul Police Department has lost 33 officers; 20 of them killed feloniously.
Daniel is one of 173 officers killed feloniously in MN, 59% of the 293 remembered there.
Daniel is one of 15,743 officers killed feloniously in the United States, 57.1% of the 27,551 remembered there.
Daniel is one of 17,631 officers killed feloniously worldwide, 51.7% of the 34,117 remembered here.
34,117 officers are remembered on this memorial. Each number below is one of them.
Time
In 1882, 1 officer at Saint Paul Police Department was killed feloniously, the 3rd heaviest of 18 years on record. The heaviest was 1926, with 2.
In 1882, 1 officer in MN was killed feloniously, the 43rd heaviest of 93 years on record. The heaviest was 1922, with 11.
In 1882, 45 officers in the United States were killed feloniously, the 143rd heaviest of 213 years on record. The heaviest was 1921, with 248.
In 1882, 51 officers worldwide were killed feloniously, the 142nd heaviest of 265 years on record. The heaviest was 1921, with 516.
Who
Daniel was 33. Of the 20 killed feloniously at Saint Paul Police Department whose age is recorded, half were between 31.5 and 42; the middle age was 36.5. Daniel had served 0.1 years; the middle length of service was 8 years.
Daniel was 33. Of the 166 killed feloniously in MN whose age is recorded, half were between 33 and 49; the middle age was 41. Daniel had served 0.1 years; the middle length of service was 8 years.
Daniel was 33. 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. Daniel had served 0.1 years; the middle length of service was 6 years.
Daniel was 33. Of the 15,854 killed feloniously worldwide whose age is recorded, half were between 30 and 46; the middle age was 38. Daniel had served 0.1 years; the middle length of service was 6 years.
When
June holds 10% of these deaths at Saint Paul Police Department; August holds the most, 30%. Saturdays: 20%.
June holds 5.2% of these deaths in MN; August holds the most, 16.8%. Saturdays: 18.5%.
June holds 8.1% of these deaths in the United States; December holds the most, 9.4%. Saturdays: 16.3%.
June holds 8.2% of these deaths worldwide; December holds the most, 9.2%. Saturdays: 16.2%.
How
Felonious deaths account for 60.6% of all 33 deaths at Saint Paul Police Department, the most common cause. The weapon recorded was handgun, in 50% of these deaths.
Felonious deaths account for 59% of all 293 deaths in MN, the most common cause. The weapon recorded was handgun, in 24.9% of these deaths.
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.
Felonious deaths account for 51.7% of all 34,117 deaths worldwide, the most common cause. The weapon recorded was handgun, in 20.9% of these deaths.
His people
Saint Paul Police Department has 33 officers remembered here, Daniel among them.
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Daniel O'Connell Jun 17, 1882
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Hans Hanson
Aug 3, 1888
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Thomas C. McCarrick Jun 19, 1891
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Charles Mayer
Feb 1, 1902
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James William Finn
Jun 3, 1902
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Richard Cronin
Jan 3, 1905
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Frank Fraser
Aug 14, 1911
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Michael J. Sullivan
Jun 26, 1914
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Hans Aamold
Sep 27, 1914
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Paul Gottfried
Aug 3, 1919
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William W. McClintock
Apr 2, 1922
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George Albert Stegner
Oct 12, 1922
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E. Earl Hackert
Feb 6, 1923
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William F. Wilson
Feb 6, 1923
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Frank Milanoski
Aug 15, 1924
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Albert J. Cunnien
Jul 3, 1925
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Fred A. Peitsch
Feb 23, 1926
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John Schultz
Feb 23, 1926
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Calbert H. Leedom
Jun 20, 1926
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Axel J. Soderberg
Mar 20, 1928
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Mathew Weiss
Jun 17, 1933
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Lawrence F. Tierney
Nov 14, 1934
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Richard G. Hinshaw
Oct 1, 1937
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Allan G. Lee
Sep 10, 1949
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Alfred V. Sandquist
Jun 18, 1959
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James T. Sackett, Sr.
May 22, 1970
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John Harold Larson
Aug 10, 1974
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John J. O'Brien
Apr 16, 1981
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Ronald Michael Ryan, Jr.
Aug 26, 1994
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Timothy James Jones
Aug 26, 1994
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Gerald Dennis Vick
May 6, 2005
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Joshua Phillip Lynaugh
Feb 16, 2013
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Felicia Dee Reilly
Mar 1, 2025
Where the Name Is Cut
National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial · Panel 38-W
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