Neighbors and police officers gathered at Chalfont Recreation Center last Wednesday for a mural dedication ceremony honoring fallen SWAT officer Jimmy O’Connor.
O’Connor, a North Catholic graduate who was shot in the line of duty and passed away from his injuries on March 13, 2020, is now depicted in a mural on the walls of the recreation center where he used to volunteer and coach for the Our Lady of Calvary Athletic Association. His name is painted on a wall adjacent to his portrait, along with a basketball, lacrosse stick and ball, football and a baseball and bat.
Chalfont Recreation Center, 4330 Deerpath Lane, will be renamed in O’Connor’s memory. His wife, Terri O’Connor, spoke to the crowd as her grandchildren played in front of her. Mural Arts Executive Director Jane Golden and artist of the mural, Damon Bain, both spoke as well.
The event concluded with a ribbon-cutting ceremony as children enjoyed the park and supportive community members offered hugs and kind words to the O’Connor family.
Among those in attendance were City Councilman Brian O’Neill, Police Commissioner Danielle Outlaw, Fraternal Order of Police Lodge 5 President John McNesby, state Rep. Ed Neilson and city elections commissioner Seth Bluestein.
O’Neill thanked McNesby and the FOP for covering most of the cost, adding that the Millbrook Civic Association also provided a grant. There is also a plaque in O’Connor’s memory outside the FOP. ••
