Age:  52
Served: Almost 30 years
December 1, 1913 to August 21, 1943

Anna Belle O’Conner, on August 21, 1943, called for assistance with her brother, Jesse Anderson, at her medical store at 519 West Fifth Street.  The forty-year-old Anderson was a ward of Longview State Mental Hospital and had taken a pistol from O’Conner’s cash register and threatened to kill her and himself. 

George Dooley, of 1101 McLaughlin Street, was promoted to Captain on December 16, 1941 and assigned as Superintendent of District Four.  He knew Anderson and decided to respond with Patrolman Leroy Brown, believing he could diffuse the situation.  Patrolmen Walter Sands and William Newbert were also dispatched, but the car in which they were driving was struck by another car and overturned at Central Parkway and Race Street.  Captain Dooley and Patrolman Brown arrived without backup.  Anderson began shooting at the officers as soon as they arrived.  Captain Dooley was shot through the heart and Patrolman Brown through the right side of the neck.  Anderson then barricaded himself in an outhouse as police reinforcements arrived.  They forced him out with gas bombs and, as he exited with a revolver in hand, they shot him six times in the head and chest.  Captain Dooley and Anderson were dead at the scene.  Patrolman Brown was transported to St. Mary’s Hospital then transferred to General Hospital in serious condition. 

Captain Dooley was the highest ranking Cincinnati officer to have died in the line of duty.  He had been shot once before, during the bootlegging era of 1925-28, while a detective sergeant in Detective Headquarters. 

Captain Dooley was survived by his parents, William P. and Clara Dooley, his daughter, Rosemary Dooley, and four siblings; Mrs. Clara Vonderheide, Mrs. Cecilia Wolf, William Dooley, and Joseph Dooley.  He was laid out at Charles A. Miller Sons Funeral Home at 4138 Hamilton Avenue on August 24, 1943.  On August 25, 1943, his funeral was held at the Church of Our Lord Christ the King on Linwood Avenue.  His pall bearers were Captains Walter Martin, George Pearcy, Willard Elbert, Mack Hall, and Walter Fricke and Lieutenant George Ertel.  Honorary pallbearers included Captain Patrick Hayes, Lieutenants John Oman and Harry Tobertge, and Detectives Albert Schwach, Adolph Mezger, and John Tebbe.  He was buried at St. Joseph New Cemetery on August 25, 1943 where he joined his wife, Helen, who was buried there exactly two months prior.

We have no picture of Captain Dooley after his promotion from Lieutenant. If you have further information, artifacts, or pictures of this officer, please contact the Museum Director at Director@GCPHS.com.