Roll of Honor

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Sergeant

Thomas F. Sewell

Southeastern Pennsylvania Transportation Authority Police Department — Philadelphia, PA

Felonious

End of Watch March 12, 1989

Age 31

Tour of Duty 7 yrs

Badge 23

The Vigil Panel 134 ›

Gender Male

Incident Service The Sacrifice

Incident

Sergeant Thomas Sewell was stabbed to death while investigating a prowler who was trespassing in a garage at the 69th Street Terminal Complex in Upper Darby Township, Pennsylvania. Sergeant Sewell had responded to the call at approximately 4:30 am and was searching the subject when the man suddenly turned around and started stabbing him in the head with a 12-inch kitchen knife. Sergeant Sewell was able to shoot the suspect twice during the attack, killing him. Sergeant Sewell had served with the SEPTA Transit Police Department for seven years.

Survivors

He was survived by his wife.

In Our Keeping

Permanent identifier: BO-US-PA-4B06DB64
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

I never knew you. I am standing here anyway.
Sergeant Sewell gave the Southeastern Pennsylvania Transportation Authority Police Department 7 years.
Thank you for your service to the Philadelphia community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Sergeant Sewell.

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

Agency

Department Southeastern Pennsylvania Transportation Authority Police Department

Location Philadelphia, PA

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

Service Record

End of Watch March 12, 1989

Tour of Duty 7 yrs

Age 31

Badge Number 23

Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious

Weapon Edged weapon; Knife

Offender Shot and killed

Sergeant Thomas F. Sewell 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%.

Southeastern Pennsylvania Transportation Authority Police Department

of 1 officers

100% Felonious

PA — Statewide

597

of 1,261 officers

47.3% Felonious

Nationwide

17,623

of 32,508 officers

54.2% Felonious

National Cause Distribution

How Felonious compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. Thomas F. Sewell's cause is highlighted.

Felonious

17,623 (54.2%)

Accident

10,088 (31%)

Illness

2,974 (9.1%)

Cardiac

1,306 (4%)

Undetermined

260 (0.8%)

Suicide

256 (0.8%)

vehicular

1 (0%)

How Thomas F. Sewell Compares

Age at End of Watch

This officer

Avg for Felonious: 39.0 years

Years of Service

This officer

Avg for Felonious: 8.5 years

Offender Outcome

Shot and killed

When Felonious Deaths Occur

Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. Thomas F. Sewell is highlighted in Mar.

Jan

1,392

Feb

1,295

Mar

1,373

Apr

1,517

May

1,505

Jun

1,443

Jul

1,587

Aug

1,516

Sep

1,553

Oct

1,371

Nov

1,447

Dec

1,624

Weapons Used Against Officers

Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. Thomas F. Sewell was killed by edged weapon; knife.

Gun; Unknown type

5,083

Handgun

2,077

Shotgun

922

Officer's handgun

909

Automobile; Alcohol involved

530

Rifle

518