San Francisco Police Department, California
End of Watch: Wednesday, February 18, 1970
Age: 44
Tour of Duty: 20 years
Badge Number: 1001
Cause of Death: Bomb
Date of Incident: February 16, 1970
Weapon Used: Explosives; Bomb
Suspect Info: Unknown
Sergeant Brian McDonnell succumbed to wounds sustained two days earlier when a bomb exploded in the Park Police Station on February 16, 1970.
The bomb exploded on the window sill of his office a few hours after riots were quelled. Hundreds of demonstrators protesting the Chicago conspiracy trial became unruly, causing over $165,00 in damage.
Although Sergeant McDonnell's murder was never solved, it is believed the bomb was set by members of the domestic terrorist group Weather Underground. Members of the group shot and killed Sergeant Edward O'Grady and Officer Waverly Brown of the Nyack, New York, Police Department on October 20, 1981.
Sergeant McDonnell's uncle, Sergeant Joseph Lacey, was shot and killed in the line of duty on December 30, 1956, while serving with the San Francisco Police Department.
Sergeant McDonnell had served with the San Francisco Police Department for 20 years. He is survived by his son, daughter, parents, brother, and sister. His father was a former San Francisco Police sergeant.