Dennis Sullivan
Agency patch
Police Officer

Dennis Sullivan

Philadelphia Police Department — Philadelphia, PA
Felonious
End of Watch June 14, 1870
Age 50
Tour of Duty 14 yrs
Badge 200
The Vigil Panel 3 ›
Gender Male

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

Permanent identifier
BO-US-PA-250BBE5B
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

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

Type Police Department
Location Philadelphia, Philadelphia County, PA
Platform Identity ppd.philadelphia.pa.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch June 14, 1870
Tour of Duty 14 yrs
Age 50
Badge Number 200
Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious
Weapon Person

Police Officer Dennis Sullivan 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 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.

Philadelphia Police Department
162
of 378 officers
42.9% 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. Dennis Sullivan's cause is highlighted.

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

How Dennis Sullivan Compares

Age at Death
50
This officer
Avg for Felonious: 39.0 years
Years of Service
14
This officer
Avg for Felonious: 8.4 years

When Felonious Deaths Occur

Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. Dennis Sullivan is highlighted in Jun.

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. Dennis Sullivan was killed by person.

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

Incident Location