Roll of Honor
Incident
Patrolman Thomas Chidlow was killed when the buggy he was riding in was struck by a train at the Roup Avenue railroad crossing.
The driver's vision was obscured by the railroad depot and a train stopped on the first set of tracks, which had a severe curve at that point. As he proceeded across the track an engine, which was running with its tender in front, failed to sound its horn and struck the buggy. Officer Chidlow and the buggy's driver were both killed instantly and their bodies mutilated.
Patrolman Chidlow's children happened across the scene as they walked to school and witnessed the scene.
Patrolman Chidlow had served with the Pittsburgh Bureau of Police for 20 years and was survived by his wife and 10 children.
Survivors
Patrolman Chidlow had served with the Pittsburgh Bureau of Police for 20 years and was survived by his wife and 10 children.
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
BO-US-PA-0FEB5127- 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
138 years is a long time for a name to go unread. Not today.
Patrolman Chidlow gave the Pittsburgh Bureau of Police 20 years.
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 Chidlow is one of 10,088 officers lost to accidents in the line of duty across the full record of this memorial — 31% of all 32,508 officers honored here.
In PA, 417 of 1,261 officers were lost to accidents in the line of duty — 33.1% of this state's fallen. That is 2.1 percentage points above the national rate of 31%.
At Pittsburgh Bureau of Police, 38 of 101 officers on record were lost to accidents in the line of duty — 37.6% of this agency's fallen.
National Cause Distribution
How Accident compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. Thomas Chidlow's cause is highlighted.
How Thomas Chidlow Compares
When Accident Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Accident deaths across the full memorial record. Thomas Chidlow is highlighted in May.
Incident Location
Others Who Wore This Badge
100 officers from Pittsburgh Bureau of Police are honored on badge.nw. Showing the 16 most recent.
