Roll of Honor
Incident
Patrolman David Lewis succumbed to head injuries sustained on June 1st, 1899, while struggling with a suspect he was attempting to arrest for disorderly conduct in a saloon on Smithfield Street near Seventh Avenue.
On June 1st, Patrolman Lewis was called to a saloon to subdue a patron who was disturbing the peace. When Patrolman Lewis attempted to arrest the man, the man resisted. During the ensuing struggle, Patrolman Lewis' head struck the pavement, and he suffered a skull fracture.
Patrolman Lewis suffered four strokes as a result of the skull fracture between October 1899 and June 1900. He passed away on August 7, 1900.
Patrolman Lewis was a Union Army veteran of the Civil War and had served with the Pittsburgh Bureau of Police for 22 years.
Patrolman Lewis suffered four strokes as a result of the skull fracture between October 1899 and June 1900. He passed away on August 7, 1900.
Survivors
He was survived by his wife and one child.
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
BO-US-PA-7E19D0FA- 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 served 1985 to 1993. You served too, before the badge - different uniform, same idea. You go where you are sent and you do not get to pick the call.
Patrolman Lewis gave the Pittsburgh Bureau of Police 19 years.
Thank you for your service. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, brother.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
Military Service
David W. Lewis served in the United States military before joining law enforcement. Full service record available on salute.nw.
Patrolman David W. Lewis 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. David W. Lewis's cause is highlighted.
How David W. Lewis Compares
When Felonious Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. David W. Lewis is highlighted in Aug.
Weapons Used Against Officers
Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. David W. Lewis 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.
