RI State Trooper Honored For Helping Las Vegas Shooting Victims

A Rhode Island State Trooper has been honored with the department's highest honor for his role in helping victims of the Las Vegas mass shooting in October 2017. Detective Conor S. O'Donnell was awarded the Division's Service ribbon on Thursday at a ceremony attended by Governor Gina Raimondo and other federal and state officials.

"Detective Conor S. O’Donnell’s multiple acts of selfless heroism during this incident evinced exceptional courage, concern for public safety and a superior level of professionalism – all in the highest traditions of the Rhode Island State Police," Colonel James Manni, State Police Superintendent, said at the ceremony.

This year marks the 28th Rhode Island State Police Memorial Ceremony, which is held annually during National Police Week. The event honors all members of the state police, both active and retired, as well as the seven troopers who have been killed in the line of duty.

On October 1, 2017, O'Donnell and his girlfriend were in the crowd of more than 22,000 people at the Route 91 Harvest Festival, an outdoor concert across the street from the Mandalay Bay hotel on the Las Vegas Strip. Shooter Stephen Paddock opened fire on the crowd just after 10 p.m., killing 58 people and injuring hundreds more in what became the worst mass shooting in United States history.

As the shots rang out, O'Donell brought his girlfriend to safety before running back into the crowd to help others, including using his own belt and shoelaces as a tourniquet for an injured man, packing the wounds and attempting CPR on a victim who had been shot in the chest and helping a woman with a cast take shelter under stairs. After the shooting stopped, O'Donnell continued to help victims, bringing them to a makeshift medical triage area nearby.

"Detective O’Donnell’s heroic actions in Las Vegas two years ago prove that none of our police officers are ever truly ‘off-duty.,’" Gov. Raimondo said. "We all owe him a tremendous debt of gratitude for putting his life on the line to protect strangers. I can’t think of anyone more deserving of the Service Ribbon."

O'Donnell, the son of Retired Colonel Steven G. O'Donnell, has been a member of the Rhode Island State Police since 2011.

"It is my honor and privilege to award Detective Conor S. O’Donnell the Rhode Island State Police Service Ribbon, which is the highest honor bestowed upon a sworn member of the Rhode Island State Police for acts marked by heroism, bravery, self-sacrifice and action above and beyond the call of duty," Col. Manni said.