Michael S. Lingham
Agency patch
Sergeant

Michael S. Lingham

Philadelphia Police Department — Philadelphia, PA
Felonious
End of Watch April 14, 1974
Age 29
Tour of Duty 11 yrs
Badge 8588
The Vigil Panel 113 ›
Gender Male

Incident

Sergeant Lingham succumbed to a gunshot wound a month earlier by a suspect while attempting to serve a search warrant during a drug raid. Sergeant Lingham was shot in the head while he and other officers entered an apartment in the 1600 block of S 20th Street. The 23-year-old subject was wounded by other officers in an exchange of gunfire. Sergeant Lingham was rushed to Graduate Hospital where he remained in a coma till his death. The suspect, 22, was out on bail for attempted murder. A year earlier he threatened another officer with a shotgun. He was convicted of second degree murder and narcotics possession in connection with Sergeant Lingham's death and sentenced to 17 to 35 years. Sergeant Lingham had served with the Philadelphia Police Department for 11 years.

In Our Keeping

Permanent identifier
BO-US-PA-EEC6FD72
Stewardship
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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.
Sergeant Lingham gave the Philadelphia Police Department 11 years.
Thank you for your service to the Philadelphia community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Sergeant Lingham.

— 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 April 14, 1974
Tour of Duty 11 yrs
Age 29
Badge Number 8588
Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious
Weapon Handgun

Sergeant Michael S. Lingham 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. Michael S. Lingham's cause is highlighted.

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

How Michael S. Lingham Compares

Age at Death
29
This officer
Avg for Felonious: 39.0 years
Years of Service
11
This officer
Avg for Felonious: 8.4 years

When Felonious Deaths Occur

Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. Michael S. Lingham is highlighted in Apr.

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. Michael S. Lingham was killed by handgun.

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

Incident Location