Quin Edward O’Brien was a 50-year-old Waukesha County Sheriff’s Department sergeant and military veteran who was mortally wounded during a courtroom rampage on June 21, 1978. During a court proceeding for defendant Filemon Amaro Jr., Amaro wrestled a bailiff’s service handgun away and opened fire. Contemporary accounts say O’Brien was struck in the head and leg; later reports describe both deputies being shot in the head at point-blank range. Deputy Michael Geszvain was killed at the scene; O’Brien was critically injured, rushed to a hospital, and listed by law-enforcement memorial records with an end of watch of June 22, 1978. O’Brien left a wife and seven children and a nearly 24-year law-enforcement career cut short.

The attack touched off a five-hour escape and hostage ordeal that stretched from the courthouse toward Madison. Amaro forced a county social worker, Nellie Gurrath, and others into a prolonged hostage situation before officers wounded and captured him. Amaro was prosecuted, convicted of two counts of first-degree murder and two counts of kidnapping, and received two life sentences plus additional years. Does anyone have memories of courthouse security or of Sergeant O’Brien to share?