Stephen Edward Sawka

Philadelphia Police Department — Philadelphia, PA

Cardiac

End of Watch June 18, 1983

Age 27

Tour of Duty 3 yrs

Badge 3790

The Vigil Panel 127 ›

Gender Male

Incident Service The Sacrifice Department 377

Incident

Officer Stephen Sawka suffered a fatal heart attack following a struggle with a suspect at York Street and Sepviva Street, in which he and his partner suffered minor injuries. After arresting the suspect, Officer Sawka drove his partner to the police administration building to photograph his injuries. As Officer Sawka waited outside, he began to suffer chest pains. He drove himself to a local hospital, where he died. Officer Sawka had served with the Philadelphia Police Department for 3 years.

Survivors

He was survived by his wife and son.

In Our Keeping

Permanent identifier: BO-US-PA-9773ADCD
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.
Police Officer Sawka gave the Philadelphia Police Department 3 years.
Thank you for your service to the Philadelphia community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Police Officer Sawka.

— 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 June 18, 1983

Tour of Duty 3 yrs

Age 27

Badge Number 3790

Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Cardiac

Police Officer Stephen Edward Sawka is one of 1,306 officers lost to cardiac events in the line of duty across the full record of this memorial — 4% of all 32,508 officers honored here.

In PA, 118 of 1,261 officers were lost to cardiac events in the line of duty — 9.4% of this state's fallen. That is 5.4 percentage points above the national rate of 4%.

At Philadelphia Police Department, 37 of 378 officers on record were lost to cardiac events in the line of duty — 9.8% of this agency's fallen.

Philadelphia Police Department

of 378 officers

9.8% Cardiac

PA — Statewide

118

of 1,261 officers

9.4% Cardiac

Nationwide

1,306

of 32,508 officers

4% Cardiac