Truman Swain

Philadelphia Police Department — Philadelphia, PA

Felonious Veteran

End of Watch July 5, 1924

Age 48

Tour of Duty 18 yrs

The Vigil Panel 47 ›

Gender Male

Incident Service The Sacrifice Department 377

Incident

Detective Swain was shot and killed inside a garage at the corner of 7th and Christian streets in South Philadelphia. Detective Swain was killed when he attempted to stop a gun battle involving six men and a woman. The fracas was the result of a long-standing feud that came to a head when shots were fired through the garage window about 1 a.m. The owner came out and confronted a man and he later returned with his wife and two other men. An argument ensued and passing officers ordered them to disperse and they did so temporarily. Just after the officers rounded a corner, the gunfire started. Detective Swain was passing by and stopped to intervene. He was shot in the neck while trying to rescue one man who was about to be stabbed. He was subsequently shot four more times and died on the spot. Detective Swain shot and killed his assailant, the garage owner, and severely wounded the garage owner's son in the gun battle. Five suspects were arrested and three were detained as material witnesses. Detective Swain, a veteran of the Spanish-American War, had served with the agency for 18 years and was assigned to the Auto Squad. He was a recognized expert on auto theft and vehicle identification.

Survivors

He was survived by his wife and son.

In Our Keeping

Permanent identifier: BO-US-PA-85DF9E78
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.
Detective Swain gave the Philadelphia Police Department 18 years.
Thank you for your service to the Philadelphia community, and for your service before it. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, brother.

— 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 July 5, 1924

Tour of Duty 18 yrs

Age 48

Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious

Weapon Gun; Unknown type

Offender Shot and killed

Military Service

Truman Swain served in the United States military before joining law enforcement. Full service record available on salute.nw.

Detective Truman Swain 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