Peter K. Tsorvas
Agency patch
Detective

Peter K. Tsorvas

Pittsburgh Bureau of Police — Pittsburgh, PA
Felonious
End of Watch November 2, 1920
Age 30
Tour of Duty 2 yrs
The Vigil Panel 39 ›
Gender Male

Incident

Detective Peter Tsorvas succumbed to gunshot wounds to the leg and abdomen while investigating a gambling ring at Wylie and Sixth Avenues three days earlier. Detective Tsorvas and the suspect engaged in a running gun battle in which over nine shots were fired. His murderer was captured and confessed. He was tried, convicted of voluntary manslaughter, and sentenced to 4 but not more than 8 years. Detective Tsorvas had served with the Pittsburgh Bureau of Police for two years and was assigned to the Oakland Police District, Present day Zone 4 Oakland.

In Our Keeping

Permanent identifier
BO-US-PA-18D98DFE
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 Tsorvas gave the Pittsburgh Bureau of Police 2 years.
Thank you for your service. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Detective Tsorvas.

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

Agency

Type Federal Agency
Location Pittsburgh, PA
Platform Identity pittpd.fed.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch November 2, 1920
Tour of Duty 2 yrs
Age 30
Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious
Weapon Gun

Detective Peter K. Tsorvas 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 Pittsburgh Bureau of Police, 45 of 101 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 44.6% of this agency's fallen.

Pittsburgh Bureau of Police
45
of 101 officers
44.6% 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. Peter K. Tsorvas's cause is highlighted.

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

How Peter K. Tsorvas Compares

Age at Death
30
This officer
Avg for Felonious: 39.0 years
Years of Service
2
This officer
Avg for Felonious: 8.4 years

When Felonious Deaths Occur

Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. Peter K. Tsorvas is highlighted in Nov.

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. Peter K. Tsorvas was killed by gun.

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

Incident Location