Westwood Police Honoring One of Their Own

After nearly four decades serving with the Westwood Police Department, Lieutenant Robert O'Donnell is stepping aside to enter the days of retirement.

O'Donnell first began serving with the Westwood Police on December 29, 1974, and describing his time on the force as "very positive," said his experience has been nothing short of enlightening.

"I'd do it all over again," O'Donnell said. "I enjoyed the people I worked with, the people I worked for, and the people I worked for in the community."

To commemorate O'Donnell's time on the force, the Westwood Police Relief Association will be holding a on Friday, April 15 at Raffael's in Walpole.

"They don't make them like Bob O'Donnell anymore," said Westwood Police Chief William Chase. "It's a cliche, but he's a cop's cop. I have the utmost respect for him, and the common sense approach that the took to policing."

Looking back on his career, O'Donnell could not ignore what was arguably the most memorable incident he'd be involved in as a Westwood Police officer. On February 11, 1975, O'Donnell was involved in a gunfight that resulted in the death of his partner, Officer William Sheehan. The two were on patrol together when they encountered a vehicle stopped in traffic; they subsequently approached the car, unaware that a murder had taken place inside the vehicle.

A suspect then approached the officers between the squad car and the vehicle, and opened fire on them using a .357 caliber revolver. Sheehan was killed in the shootout and O'Donnell was injured. The suspect was later found guilty of two counts of murder and one count of attempted murder, and received a life sentence in prison.

The incident left a heavy scar on O'Donnell, both physically and emotionally.

"That will never go away," O'Donnell said.

But it wasn't something that was going to stop him from doing his duty, as was recognized by Chase.

"The most remarkable thing about (O'Donnell), he never used that incident, which was obviously a real tragedy, as an excuse for not doing this job," Chase said.

Now, at 65, O'Donnell is looking forward to what he'll be doing in the days ahead.

"As we speak I'm working for my son-in-law at a body shop in Norwood," O'Donnell said. "It's something that I've done over the years as a hobby and as a profession. But my main job now, is I drive a truck for a private contractor in Walpole."

And for anyone aspiring to become involved in a career of law enforcement - in Westwood or elsewhere - O'Donnell says the experience can be a highly-rewarding one.

"It's a good job," he said. "It's a job that you feel you've done something after each shift. You have some very positive shifts and you're able to help people and solve crimes for the community. It's always something different; it's not something you get bored of."