Patrolman Edward F. O'Donnell, Portland Police Department, Maine

Patrolman Edward F. O'Donnell

Portland Police Department, Maine

End of Watch Saturday, July 30, 1932

Edward F. O'Donnell

Patrolman Edward O'Donnell was struck by a vehicle and killed while attempting to flag down a possible motor vehicle violator on Forest Avenue.

Patrolman O'Donnell had gotten out of his car to check business doors on Forest Avenue in the area of Dartmouth Street. According to witnesses, he stepped into the street from between two parked cars and blew his whistle to stop a passing car when he was struck by another car. A second car then ran over Officer O'Donnell. He was transported to Maine General Hospital, where he died at approximately 12:30 the next morning without regaining consciousness.

After interviewing a witness and both drivers, it was determined that a combination of bad lighting, Officer O'Donnell's dark blue uniform, and his stepping into the road suddenly from between parked cars led to the crash and no charges were filed.

Patrolman O'Donnell was a U.S. Navy veteran of WWI and had served with the Portland Police Department for 11 years. He was survived by his wife and daughter.

Bio

Age Not available
Tour 11 years
Badge Not available

Incident Details

Cause Struck by vehicle
Incident Date Friday, July 29, 1932

traffic stop

Most Recent Reflection

View all 8 Reflections

Officer O'donnell was my grandmother's brother. To my mother, her siblings and her cousins, Officer O'Donnell was "Uncle Eddie the policeman". My family remembers "Uncle Eddie" as the ever trustworthy and respectable beat cop. The neighborhood kids would happily tag along behind him if they spotted him making rounds. Eddie's only young daughter Hope was my mother's age. Hope spent so much time with my mother's family after Eddie's death that she was thought to have been my mother's third sister. Sad times for the O'Donnell and Ward Clans on munjoy Hill.

Former Portland patrolman Gary Anderson
I was issued Uncle Eddie's badge number 42

March 29, 2017