Rhode Island State Police, Rhode Island
End of Watch: Tuesday, August 31, 1954
Age: 25
Tour of Duty: 3 years
Badge Number: 40
Cause of Death: Weather/Natural disaster
Date of Incident: August 31, 1954
Weapon Used: Not available
Suspect Info: Not available
Trooper Daniel O'Brien drowned while performing rescue operations in East Matunuck during Hurricane Carol.
Trooper O'Brien was near Succotash Road, informing residents of the oceanfront homes to evacuate when rapidly rising water crippled his patrol car. While helping a citizen, a large wave separated the two and washed Trooper O'Brien away.
His abandoned patrol car was found with just the siren sticking out of the water and his body was found lying face down in debris near Post Road in the marsh in East Matunuck.
Trooper O'Brien was a U.S. Army veteran of the Korean War and had served with the Rhode Island State Police for three years. He was survived by his parents, three brothers, one sister, and a fiancee.
He was posthumously awarded the agency's State Police Service Ribbon.