Roll of Honor
Incident
Patrolman Thomas Lyons succumbed to injuries sustained on July 3rd, 1878, while attempting to arrest a disorderly man near the Sharpsburg Bridge.
He was walking his beat along Butler Street, between 50th Street and the bridge, when he encountered the man. He placed the man under arrest and had begun to walk him to the station house when the man headbutted him.
Patrolman Lyons was immediately taken to St. Francis Hospital where his condition continued to worsen until he died on July 16th, 1878.
The man who struck him was charged with murder.
Patrolman Lyons had only served with the Pittsburgh Police Department for five months.
Thank you for your service and please know that no passage of time will ever erase you sacrifice. Rest in peace always.
Detective Cpl/3 Steven Rizzo Delaware State Police (Retired) July 16th, 2020
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- April 2, 2026
- Last updated
- July 23, 2026
Honored here by 1 sentinel - 1 tribute.
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Tributes
148 years is a long time for a name to go unread. Not today.
Patrolman Lyons 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 Lyons 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 Lyons's cause is highlighted.
How Thomas Lyons Compares
Offender Outcome
Charged with murder
When Felonious Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. Thomas Lyons is highlighted in Jul.
Weapons Used Against Officers
Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. Thomas Lyons was killed by person.
Incident Location
Others Who Wore This Badge
100 officers from Pittsburgh Bureau of Police are honored on badge.nw. Showing the 16 most recent.
