Roll of Honor
Incident
Patrolman Thomas Freeborn succumbed to a head injury suffered seven years earlier by a prisoner who was trying to escape inside the Central Police Station on Diamond Street.
The subject had been arrested by officers the previous day while trying to pawn three gold watches and could not identify himself. While being locked up the identity of the subject was discovered and the three gold watches were identified by a jeweler in Philadelphia as being stolen during a robbery. Patrolman Freeborn, who was acting as a turnkey for the day, was moving the prisoner for the arrival of a Philadelphia police officer in order to transfer custody of him. The subject struck Patrolman Freeborn with an iron-bar as he made an escape, causing a serious wound.
The subject was convicted of the assault on Patrolman Freeborn in April 1887 and sentenced to the Western Penetenirty in Pittsburgh for four years. Once the sentence was carried out the subject was taken to Harrisburg and sentenced to 11 years in Eastern Penitentiary in Philadelphia for the robbery.
Patrolman Freeborn's death was ruled a homicide by a coroner's jury.
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- April 2, 2026
- Last updated
- July 23, 2026
Honored here by 1 sentinel - 1 tribute.
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Tributes
132 years is a long time for a name to go unread. Not today.
Patrolman Freeborn served with the Pittsburgh Bureau of Police.
Thank you for your service. Gone but never to be forgotten.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
Patrolman Thomas Freeborn 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 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.
National Cause Distribution
How Felonious compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. Thomas Freeborn's cause is highlighted.
How Thomas Freeborn Compares
Offender Outcome
Sentenced to 4 years
When Felonious Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. Thomas Freeborn is highlighted in Apr.
Weapons Used Against Officers
Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. Thomas Freeborn was killed by blunt object; iron pipe.
Incident Location
Others Who Wore This Badge
100 officers from Pittsburgh Bureau of Police are honored on badge.nw. Showing the 16 most recent.
