Roll of Honor
Incident
Chief Wilson Lewars was shot and killed as he and his patrolman interrupted five men looting the Paterson Silk Plant. The patrolman was hit with two pellets of buckshot in his leg and face but recovered. Pennsylvania State Police later apprehended four of the suspects. All four were convicted of first-degree murder and sentenced to life on June 13, 1929. One died at Eastern Penitentiary on September 9, 1934. One was pardoned on September 24, 1943, and another was released on March 24, 1945. The fourth had his sentence reduced in 1944. On December 1, 1939, his brother and the fifth suspect were apprehended in Atlantic City, New Jersey. He was charged with complicity in Chief Lewars' murder. Chief Lewars was a Quartermaster Sergeant in the Spanish American War and a Pennsylvania National Guard veteran who had served with the Hamburg Borough Police Department for five years.
Survivors
He was survived by his wife.
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
BO-US-PA-B03E4003- 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.
Chief of Police Lewars gave the Hamburg Borough Police Department 5 years.
Thank you for your service to the Hamburg 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
Service Record
Incident Details
Military Service
Wilson H. Lewars served in the United States military before joining law enforcement. Full service record available on salute.nw.
Chief of Police Wilson H. Lewars 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 Hamburg Borough Police Department, 1 of 2 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 50% of this agency's fallen.
National Cause Distribution
How Felonious compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. Wilson H. Lewars's cause is highlighted.
How Wilson H. Lewars Compares
Offender Outcome
Sentenced to life
When Felonious Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. Wilson H. Lewars is highlighted in May.
Weapons Used Against Officers
Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. Wilson H. Lewars was killed by handgun.
Others Who Wore This Badge
1 officer from Hamburg Borough Police Department are honored on badge.nw.
