Big Spring Police Department, Texas
End of Watch: Tuesday, November 28, 1939
Age: 43
Tour of Duty: 5 months
Badge Number: Not available
Cause of Death: Gunfire
Date of Incident: November 28, 1939
Weapon Used: Gun; Unknown type
Suspect Info: Committed suicide
Assistant William Chief O'Leary was shot and killed while struggling with a suspect in front of a grocery store. There were no witnesses to the shooting and suspects were immediately identified. Approximately one month later a prisoner committed suicide and left a note stating he had killed Assistant Chief O'Leary. The note identified the location of the murder weapon, which later was linked to the bullets recovered from Assistant Chief O'Leary's body.
Assistant Chief O'Leary had been with the agency for only five months and was survived by three sons.