Roll of Honor
Incident
Policeman John Toomey was accidentally shot by another officer during a raid at 172 East Chelton Avenue. Officers were conducting a raid on an illegal gambling business. Officers surrounded the building, and subjects fled through the front and back doors. As an officer pursued a subject and fired his service weapon, the shot missed and hit Officer Toomey in the hip. Officer Toomey was transported to Germantown Hospital, where physicians were able to save his life after four surgeries. He died as a result of complications two years later. Policeman Toomey was a Pennsylvania National Guard veteran and served with the Philadelphia Police Department for five and a half years.
Survivors
He was survived by his wife and mother.
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
BO-US-PA-710E8C3C- 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
I served 1985 to 1993. You served too, before the badge - different uniform, same idea. You go where you are sent and you do not get to pick the call.
Policeman Toomey gave the Philadelphia Police Department 5 years.
Thank you for your service to the Philadelphia community, and for your service before it. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, brother.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
Military Service
John J. Toomey served in the United States military before joining law enforcement. Full service record available on salute.nw.
Policeman John J. Toomey is one of 10,088 officers lost to accidents in the line of duty across the full record of this memorial — 31% of all 32,508 officers honored here.
In PA, 417 of 1,261 officers were lost to accidents in the line of duty — 33.1% of this state's fallen. That is 2.1 percentage points above the national rate of 31%.
At Philadelphia Police Department, 110 of 378 officers on record were lost to accidents in the line of duty — 29.1% of this agency's fallen.
National Cause Distribution
How Accident compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. John J. Toomey's cause is highlighted.
How John J. Toomey Compares
When Accident Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Accident deaths across the full memorial record. John J. Toomey is highlighted in Aug.
Incident Location
Others Who Wore This Badge
377 officers from Philadelphia Police Department are honored on badge.nw. Showing the 16 most recent.
