Roll of Honor
Incident
Patrolman Patrick Wallace was shot and killed while attempting to arrest a suspect on an outstanding warrant near the intersection of Fargo Street and Singer Place. Patrolman Wallace and his partner were on patrol in the Brushton area of Pittsburgh and were attempting to arrest a suspect for failure to appear in court. The suspect fled before they could arrest him, and a foot chase ensued. As soon as the officers caught the suspect, a second suspect, crouched behind a parked car, fired at Patrolman Wallace, striking him in the chest and killing him. The other officer returned fire, missing both suspects. The two suspects fled the scene. The 22-year-old gunman, an escapee from Western Penitentiary, was captured in Pittsburg two months later. The suspect, serving a 5 to 15-year sentence for nine armed robberies, failed to return to prison after being given a weekend furlough the last weekend in May 1974. After Patrolman Wallace's murder, the news reports of numerous Western Penitentiary furloughed inmates not returning to prison enraged the public. He was convicted of first-degree murder and sentenced to death on March 28, 1975. His sentence was later commuted to life. The suspect was granted compassionate release from prison in April 2023. He died while in hospice care in June 2023. Patrolman Wallace was a United States Army veteran and served with the Pittsburgh Bureau of Police for more than five years, assigned to Zone 5 Police Station.
Survivors
He was survived by his wife, daughter, and parents.
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
BO-US-PA-8E4033C2- 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 Wallace gave the Pittsburgh Bureau of Police 5 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
Patrick J. Wallace, Jr. served in the United States military before joining law enforcement. Full service record available on salute.nw.
Patrolman Patrick J. Wallace, Jr. 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. Patrick J. Wallace, Jr.'s cause is highlighted.
How Patrick J. Wallace, Jr. Compares
Offender Outcome
Deceased
When Felonious Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. Patrick J. Wallace, Jr. is highlighted in Jul.
Weapons Used Against Officers
Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. Patrick J. Wallace, Jr. was killed by handgun; .38 caliber.
Incident Location
Others Who Wore This Badge
100 officers from Pittsburgh Bureau of Police are honored on badge.nw. Showing the 16 most recent.
