Roll of Honor
Incident
Sergeant Samuel Hewitt and Officer James Quigley were shot and killed following a pursuit of a stolen vehicle. When the vehicle they were pursuing crashed at the intersection of Stenton Avenue and Sedgewick Street, the suspect fled on foot, then opened fire on Officers as they pursued him, killing Sergeant Hewitt and Officer Quigley. The suspect was convicted of both murders and sentenced to life in prison. He was released from prison in 1972 and, two years later, murdered his foster mother. He was sentenced to life in prison for that murder as well. Sergeant Hewitt was a U.S. Army veteran of WWII and had served with the Philadelphia Police Department for 20 years.
Survivors
He was survived by his wife and three grown children.
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
BO-US-PA-0BD13564- 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.
Sergeant Hewitt gave the Philadelphia Police Department 20 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
Samuel Harrison Hewitt served in the United States military before joining law enforcement. Full service record available on salute.nw.
Sergeant Samuel Harrison Hewitt 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. Samuel Harrison Hewitt's cause is highlighted.
How Samuel Harrison Hewitt Compares
Offender Outcome
Sentenced to life
When Felonious Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. Samuel Harrison Hewitt is highlighted in Apr.
Weapons Used Against Officers
Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. Samuel Harrison Hewitt was killed by gun; unknown type.
Incident Location
Others Who Wore This Badge
377 officers from Philadelphia Police Department are honored on badge.nw. Showing the 16 most recent.
