Lieutenant Brian O’Neill has served the Tewksbury Police Department for 14 years and he previously served for 2 years as a Patrolman in the City of Newport News, Virginia. While on patrol, on March 1st, 2006, a career criminal stole a vehicle in Lowell and subsequently robbed the Mobil gas station on Route 133 in Tewksbury. After a lengthy police pursuit from Tewksbury into Billerica, the suspect crashed into a Billerica police cruiser before crashing into a telephone pole. Officer O’Neill and his partner, Officer Douglas Pratt, pursued the vehicle up until it crashed and both tackled the suspect as he fled on foot from the crashed vehicle and a fight ensued. During the violent ground fight, the suspect took Officer O’Neill’s firearm from his holster and shot him thru his leg. Both Officers O’Neill and Pratt continued to fight for the firearm and fight the suspect until backup arrived. Officer O’Neill was treated for the gunshot wound to his leg and lacerations to his hand.
Lieutenant O’Neill has had three (3) recent surgeries since the date he was shot and continued physical therapy from 03/01/2006 to the current date.