Police Magazine Logo
MenuMENU
SearchSEARCH

Funeral Held for Slain Philadelphia Officer, Delayed 2 Months by Pandemic

Fellow officers, wearing protective masks, saluted as his flag-draped casket was escorted into Our Lady of Calvary Church in Northeast Philadelphia.

May 8, 2020
Funeral Held for Slain Philadelphia Officer, Delayed 2 Months by Pandemic

 

2 min to read


Nearly two months after he was killed in the line of duty, a funeral service was held Friday morning for Philadelphia Police Sgt. James O'Connor IV. The funeral was delayed by the COVID-19 pandemic.

Fellow officers, wearing protective masks, saluted as his flag-draped casket was escorted into Our Lady of Calvary Church in Northeast Philadelphia, ABC reports.

Ad Loading...

His son, James O'Connor V, delivered a eulogy during the service, recognizing the impact of the pandemic. The few officers who were able to attend in-person maintained social distancing.

"This isn't the way we wanted to say goodbye to my father. It's just not fair. When the time is right, we'll give my father a proper send-off," said O'Connor V.

Mayor Jim Kenney and Police Commissioner Danielle Outlaw each acknowledged the unusual circumstances as they spoke to the limited audience, which included O’Connor’s children — his son and daughter Kelsey, who is in the Air Force — as well as his wife Terri, his mother, and his father, a retired city police officer, Philly.com reports.

Kenney said: “The city has not, and the city will not, forget Cpl. James O’Connor. We won’t forget the sacrifices he made, or the sacrifices your family has made.”

Outlaw awarded O’Connor, a 23-year veteran, the department’s Medal of Honor, a Purple Heart, and the Medal of Valor, which is named after slain Sgt. Robert Wilson III. She hugged O’Connor’s wife, Terri, while presenting her the Medal of Honor, and said the other two commendations had been pinned to the uniform in which O’Connor was to be buried.

Ad Loading...

O’Connor was shot about 5:40 a.m. March 13 when he and other SWAT officers entered a rowhouse to search for Hassan Elliott, 21, who was wanted on an arrest warrant for a March 2019 homicide.

As O’Connor climbed the stairs to reach the second floor, authorities say, Elliott fired a rifle through a closed bedroom door. O’Connor was struck in an arm and shoulder and was taken to Temple University Hospital, where he was pronounced dead.

More Patrol

Team Wendy EXFIL Endurance ballistic helmet in olive green with tactical rails and chin strap, displayed alongside the Team Wendy logo and product headline against a textured black-and-gray background.
Patrol•October 23, 2026

Team Wendy Introduces the EXFIL Endurance Ballistic Helmet, Engineered to Reduce the Burden of Extended Wear

Team Wendy has launched its EXFIL Endurance, a new lightweight ballistic helmet engineered to deliver protection, comfort, and fit during demanding, extended operations.

Read More →
Collage featuring paramedics, firefighters, police officers, and emergency vehicles surrounding the First Responders Children’s Foundation logo, highlighting the organization’s support for families of first responders.
Patrol•October 22, 2026

The First Responders Children’s Foundation National First Responders Day Roll Call of Heroes Ceremony Returns to Times Square, NYC

First Responders Children’s Foundation (FRCF), in collaboration with T-Mobile, will host the Roll Call of Heroes ceremony in Times Square to commemorate National First Responders Day on Wednesday, Oct. 28. During the event, FRCF will present 18 Hero Awards.

Read More →
Streamlight promotional graphic showcasing four lighting products: TLR-3X, PolyTac 1X, ProTac Rail Mount 1L-X, and ProTac Rail Mount VIR Pro, displayed against an orange and black background with the Streamlight logo.
Patrol•October 22, 2026

Streamlight to Showcase Newest Lighting Products for Law Enforcement Professionals at IACP 2026

Streamlight will showcase its newest lights for law enforcement at the International Association of Chiefs of Police Annual Conference & Expo. Featured lights will include the TLR-3 X, the PolyTac 1X, and more.

Read More →
Ad Loading...
Streamlight Portable Scene Light III featuring a tripod-mounted LED work light and close-up product view, with a badge recognizing it as the 2026 OH&S New Product of the Year winner.
Patrol•October 15, 2026

Streamlight Portable Scene Light III Wins 2026 OH&S New Product of the Year Award

Streamlight’s Portable Scene Light III has won the 2026 Occupational Health & Safety (OH&S) New Product of the Year Award in the Lighting category.

Read More →
Hands insert an Adept Armor protective plate into a camouflage tactical plate carrier, demonstrating how the armor plate fits inside the vest.
Patrol•September 17, 2026

Adept Armor Introduces Two New Rifle Plates

Adept Armor has launched two new Level IV ballistic plates, the Emperor and the Archon Mark 2, which brings Adept Armor’s new Quatroid ceramic to the high-threat, performance-value center of the range at 5.2 pounds.

Read More →
Open Benchmade folding knife with a bronze-colored blade, textured dark handle, and braided lanyard resting on weathered wooden boards.
Patrol•by Wayne Parham•September 17, 2026

POLICE Product Test: Benchmade Bailout

The Benchmade Bailout is a slim, lightweight carry knife with a deep-ride pocket clip and comes in a variety of blade steels and scales. Here is a detailed review of the Taiga Green Bailout, released earlier this year.

Read More →
Ad Loading...
Officer of the Month graphic honoring Deputy Lorne Juday of the Osceola County, Michigan, Sheriff’s Office for July 2026, featuring a portrait of Juday in uniform.
Patrol•September 17, 2026

NLEOMF Announces July 2026 Officer of the Month

NLEOMF honored a Michigan deputy sheriff as the July 2026 Officer of the Month for rescuing a trapped driver from a burning vehicle following a Fourth of July crash.

Read More →
Streamlight promotional graphic featuring the LiteBox 1 Million handheld light and Portable Scene Light III, highlighting products displayed for the 2026 National Safety Council Safety Congress & Expo in Indianapolis, Sept. 14–16.
Patrol•September 10, 2026

Streamlight to Showcase Newest Lighting Products at National Safety Council’s Safety Congress & Expo 2026

Streamlight will showcase its latest lights, including the Portable Scene Light III and the LiteBox 1Million, at the 2026 National Safety Council (NSC) Safety Congress & Expo.

Read More →
Graphic promoting the 2027 World Police & Fire Games in Perth, Australia, featuring an aerial city view and photos of international participants carrying Brazilian and Australian flags.
Patrol•September 10, 2026

The 2027 World Police & Fire Games Set for Perth, Australia

The 2027 World Police & Fire Games (WPFG) will take place in Perth, Western Australia, from Friday, March 12 through Sunday, March 21, 2027.

Read More →
Ad Loading...
New York City skyline at night with the Tribute in Light beams illuminating the sky in remembrance of September 11, with the 5.11 logo in the upper left.
Patrol•September 10, 2026

5.11 Partners with National Fallen Firefighters Foundation to Support #ForThe343

5.11 has joined the nationwide movement honoring the 343 New York City Fire Department firefighters lost on Sept. 11, 2001.

Read More →