Nahant Police Department, Massachusetts
End of Watch Thursday, July 27, 1961
Add to My HeroesJohn J. O'Connor
Sergeant John O'Connor suffered a fatal heart attack after struggling with a drunk driving subject at the city police station.
He had just arrested the man for drunk driving after the subject crashed his car. The man began to struggle as Sergeant O'Connor walked him to the booking room. Sergeant O'Connor was able to subdue the man before leaving him with another officer in order to go upstairs to answer the phone. When the second officer continued to hear the phone ring, he went upstairs to investigate and found Sergeant O'Connor on the floor, unresponsive. Sergeant O'Connor was transported to Lynn Hospital where he was pronounced dead.
Sergeant O'Connor was a United States Navy World War II veteran and had served with the Nahant Police Department for 28 years. He is survived by his wife, three brothers, and two sisters.
Bio
- Age 56
- Tour 28 years
- Badge Not available
- Military Veteran
Incident Details
- Cause Heart attack
Most Recent Reflection
View all 8 ReflectionsSergeant O'Connor, it's now been 61 years since your passing. I hope that the suspect you struggled with reformed himself so as to not cause any further harm.
Thank you for your service to the people of Nahant and the Commonwealth as a whole. God Bless you, Brother and may your eternal rest be ever peaceful.
Ptl. Jim Leahy, Jr.
Harvard University Police Department
July 27, 2022
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