Thomas Joseph Nihill

Philadelphia Police Department — Philadelphia, PA

Felonious

End of Watch September 21, 1924

Age 39

Tour of Duty 17 yrs

The Vigil Panel 47 ›

Gender Male

Incident Service The Sacrifice Department 377

Incident

Officer Nihill was beaten to death by three men at a barber shop on 2nd Street. The men, 23, 24, and 27, came into the shop and asked for the head barber. After they were told he was not there Officer Nihill suggested that they wait. They then started hurling insults at Officer Nihill for no reason. As Officer Nihill walked toward them, he slipped and broke his leg. The three jumped on him and beat him unmercifully causing death. They were arrested and charged with manslaughter. Officer Nihill had served with the agency for 17 years.

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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 never knew you. I am standing here anyway.
Police Officer Nihill gave the Philadelphia Police Department 17 years.
Thank you for your service to the Philadelphia community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Police Officer Nihill.

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

Agency

Department Philadelphia Police Department

Location Philadelphia, PA

Platform Identity ppd.philadelphia.pa.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch September 21, 1924

Tour of Duty 17 yrs

Age 39

Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious

Weapon Person

Offender Charged with manslaughter

Police Officer Thomas Joseph Nihill 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.

Philadelphia Police Department

162

of 378 officers

42.9% Felonious

PA — Statewide

597

of 1,261 officers

47.3% Felonious

Nationwide

17,623

of 32,508 officers

54.2% Felonious