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Edward M. Conway
Agency patch
Patrolman

Edward M. Conway

Pittsburgh Bureau of Police — Pittsburgh, PA
Felonious
United States flag Pennsylvania flag
End of Watch June 27, 1939
Age 39
Tour of Duty 8 yrs 11 mo
The Vigil Panel 76 ›
Gender Male
Incident Media Service The Sacrifice Memorials 1 Department 100

Incident

Patrolman Edward Conway was shot and killed when he and his partner responded to a hold-up in progress call at a wholesale grocery store at 119 Dahlem Street in East Liberty. The officers were investigating a minor car crash at the intersection of Frankstown Avenue and Lincoln Avenue when they were both notified by a local citizen of the hold-up in progress. As Patrolman Conway entered a back room behind the store, he was shot three times in his chest, side, and arm. The store owner, who was being held up by the suspect in the back room, grabbed Patrolman Conway's weapon and returned fire as the suspect fled the scene but missed him. Patrolman Conway's partner arrested the second suspect in the front of the store as he was opening up the safe. Patrolman Conway was transported to Pittsburgh Hospital in a radio car where he died shortly after arrival. During questioning, the arrested suspect admitted the identity of the suspect who murdered Patrolman Conway and escaped. The shooting suspect was arrested while sleeping in his Brushton home on Singer Place by city police detectives several hours after the shooting of Patrolman Conway. Both suspects were on parole at the time of the incident. The second suspect pleaded guilty to murder on October 9, 1939, and testified against the other suspect. He was sentenced to life imprisonment at Western Penitentiary. Patrolman Conway's killer pleaded not guilty and was found guilty of first-degree murder after eyewitness testimony and physical evidence. The suspect was executed in the electric chair on January 29, 1940. While in prison, the second suspect maintained that he was unaware that he was pleading guilty to murder, that he was poorly represented by counsel, and that he was coerced into the robbery by Patrolman Conway's killer. In August 1960, the man's life sentence was commuted by the governor, and he was released from jail. The suspect filed for a post-conviction review of his guilty plea and was denied. The Pennsylvani

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August 2, 2026

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Tributes

I never knew you. I am standing here anyway.
Patrolman Conway gave the Pittsburgh Bureau of Police 8 years.
Thank you for your service. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Patrolman Conway.

— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993

Agency

Department Pittsburgh Bureau of Police
Type Federal Agency
Location Pittsburgh, Allegheny County, PA
Platform Identity pittpd.fed.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch June 27, 1939
Tour of Duty 8 yrs 11 mo
Age 39
Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious
Weapon Handgun

The Sacrifice · Felonious

Edward is one of 15,743 officers killed feloniously in the United States, 57.1% of the 27,551 remembered there.

33,917 officers are remembered on this memorial. Each number below is one of them.

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Compare against
I

Time

In 1939, 82 officers in the United States were killed feloniously, the 79th heaviest of 213 years on record. The heaviest was 1921, with 248.

Every year on record · United States
II

Who

Edward was 39. Of the 14,220 killed feloniously in the United States whose age is recorded, half were between 31 and 47; the middle age was 38. Edward had served 8.9 years; the middle length of service was 6 years.

Age at death
Where he stood among them
Age by years of service
III

When

June holds 8.1% of these deaths in the United States; December holds the most, 9.4%. Tuesdays: 13.4%.

By month
By day of the week
IV

How

Felonious deaths account for 57.1% of all 27,551 deaths in the United States, the most common cause. The weapon recorded was handgun, in 23.4% of these deaths.

Every cause
Weapons recorded
V

His people

Pittsburgh Bureau of Police has 101 officers remembered here, Edward among them.

Across the years
VI

Where

Patrolman Edward M. Conway

Pittsburgh Bureau of Police · End of Watch June 27, 1939

Where the Name Is Cut

National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial · Panel 5-E

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