Windsor Locks Police Department, Connecticut
End of Watch: Tuesday, December 24, 1968
Age: 43
Tour of Duty: Not available
Badge Number: Not available
Cause of Death: Vehicular assault
Date of Incident: December 24, 1968
Weapon Used: Automobile; Alcohol involved
Suspect Info: Sentenced to one year in prison
Patrolman Joseph O'Brien was killed when his patrol car was struck by a vehicle being operated by an intoxicated driver.
Patrolman O'Brien was conducting an investigation at the scene of an accident when his patrol car was struck by the vehicle. Patrolman O'Brien and the driver of one of the vehicle involved in the original vehicle accident were standing outside the patrol car, between it and another car and were crushed between the cars.
A subsequent investigation reveled that the driver of the vehicle that struck Patrolman O'Brien was intoxicated. She was charged with DWI and sentenced to one year in prison.
Patrolman O'Brien was survived by his wife and five children.