Roll of Honor
Incident
Police Officer Dennis Sullivan succumbed to injuries two days earlier while he tried to quell a disturbance involving several drunk individuals at the intersection of Callowhill and Water streets. Officer Sullivan, was off duty and with his son when he witnessed the disturbance and tried to intervene. A subject was arrested and charged with murder following the death of Officer Sullivan. The subject was found guilty of murder on December 22, 1870, and sentenced to eight years in prison. Officer Sullivan had served with the Philadelphia Police Department for 14 years.
In Our Keeping
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BO-US-PA-250BBE5B- Stewardship
- Maintained by NeuraWeb Global Inc.
- Added to badge.nw
- April 2, 2026
- Last updated
- July 23, 2026
Honored here by 1 sentinel - 1 tribute.
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Tributes
156 years is a long time for a name to go unread. Not today.
Police Officer Sullivan gave the Philadelphia Police Department 14 years.
Thank you for your service to the Philadelphia community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
Police Officer Dennis Sullivan is one of 17,623 officers killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty across the full record of this memorial — 54.2% of all 32,508 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 6.9 percentage points below the national rate of 54.2%.
At Philadelphia Police Department, 162 of 378 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 42.9% of this agency's fallen.
National Cause Distribution
How Felonious compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. Dennis Sullivan's cause is highlighted.
How Dennis Sullivan Compares
Offender Outcome
Sentenced to eight years
When Felonious Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. Dennis Sullivan is highlighted in Jun.
Weapons Used Against Officers
Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. Dennis Sullivan was killed by person; alcohol involved.
Incident Location
Others Who Wore This Badge
377 officers from Philadelphia Police Department are honored on badge.nw. Showing the 16 most recent.
