Roll of Honor
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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- Permanent identifier
BO-US-PA-2E87189B- 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.
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
Service Record
Incident Details
Police Officer Thomas Joseph Nihill 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 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. Thomas Joseph Nihill's cause is highlighted.
How Thomas Joseph Nihill Compares
When Felonious Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. Thomas Joseph Nihill is highlighted in Sep.
Weapons Used Against Officers
Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. Thomas Joseph Nihill was killed by person.
Incident Location
Others Who Wore This Badge
377 officers from Philadelphia Police Department are honored on badge.nw. Showing the 16 most recent.
