Albert Theodore Lorch
Agency patch
Detective

Albert Theodore Lorch

Felonious
End of Watch October 1, 1943
Age 63
Tour of Duty 6 yrs
The Vigil Panel 80 ›
Gender Male

Incident

Detective Albert Lorch was shot and killed while attempting to apprehend a burglary suspect on Ruthaven Street in Pittsburgh. Detective Lorch was accompanying two Shaler Township police officers in searching for the suspect. When they located him, the man began struggling with Detective Lorch. The man disarmed him and then shot him several times, killing him. The 35-year-old suspect had recently been released from prison after serving 12 years for armed robbery. Ten days later, he was shot and killed by detectives in Pittsburgh. Detective Lorch had served with the Allegheny County Police Department for six years. He is buried at Birmingham Cemetery, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.

In Our Keeping

Permanent identifier
BO-US-PA-CEF47B69
Stewardship
Maintained by NeuraWeb Global Inc.
Added to badge.nw
August 2, 2026
Last updated
August 2, 2026

Honored here by 1 tribute.

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Tributes

I never knew you. I am standing here anyway.
Detective Lorch gave the Allegheny County Police Department 6 years.
Thank you for your service to the Pittsburgh community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Detective Lorch.

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

Agency

Type Police Department
Location Pittsburgh, Allegheny County, PA
Platform Identity acpd.allegheny.pa.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch October 1, 1943
Tour of Duty 6 yrs
Age 63
Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious
Weapon Officer's handgun

Detective Albert Theodore Lorch is one of 1 officers killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty across the full record of this memorial — 0% of all 97,772 officers honored here.

In PA, 597 of 1,261 officers were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 47.3% of this state's fallen. That is 47.3 percentage points above the national rate of 0%.

At Allegheny County Police Department, 1 of 3 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 33.3% of this agency's fallen.

Allegheny County Police Department
1
of 3 officers
33.3% Felonious
PA — Statewide
597
of 1,261 officers
47.3% Felonious
Nationwide
1
of 97,772 officers
0% Felonious

National Cause Distribution

How Felonious compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. Albert Theodore Lorch's cause is highlighted.

Felonious
1 (0%)
Accident
1 (0%)
Illness
1 (0%)
Cardiac
1 (0%)
Undetermined
1 (0%)
Suicide
1 (0%)

How Albert Theodore Lorch Compares

Age at Death
63
This officer
Avg for Felonious: 39.0 years
Years of Service
6
This officer
Avg for Felonious: 8.4 years

When Felonious Deaths Occur

Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. Albert Theodore Lorch is highlighted in Oct.

Jan
1,392
Feb
1,295
Mar
1,373
Apr
1,516
May
1,504
Jun
1,442
Jul
1,587
Aug
1,517
Sep
1,491
Oct
1,371
Nov
1,447
Dec
1,624

Weapons Used Against Officers

Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. Albert Theodore Lorch was killed by officer's handgun.

Handgun
3,684
Gun
3,592
Gun; Unknown type
1,492
Shotgun
1,109
Rifle
935
Officer's handgun
909

Incident Location

Others Who Wore This Badge

2 officers from Allegheny County Police Department are honored on badge.nw.