Thomas J. McVay

Philadelphia Police Department — Philadelphia, PA

Felonious

End of Watch July 28, 1918

Age 24

Tour of Duty 11 mo

The Vigil Panel 34 ›

Gender Male

Incident Service The Sacrifice Department 377

Incident

Police Officer Thomas McVay was shot and killed during a racial disturbance in South Philadelphia. Officer McVay was shot on Titan Street, near 27th Street, when he tried to get into a house from which shots had been fired. Policeman McVay had been on the force less than a year. The suspect who shot and killed another man was arrested and charged with two counts of murder.

Survivors

Officer McVay was survived by his fiance.

In Our Keeping

Permanent identifier: BO-US-PA-AC3FFC55
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 McVay served with the Philadelphia Police Department.
Thank you for your service to the Philadelphia community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Police Officer McVay.

— 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 28, 1918

Tour of Duty 11 mo

Age 24

Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious

Weapon Gun; Unknown type

Offender Apprehended

Police Officer Thomas J. McVay 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