Roll of Honor
Incident
Detective Patrick Fitzgerald was shot and killed while investigating a robbery and murder of a grocery store owner which had occurred earlier in the morning in the Mount Washington section of the city. He and other detectives identified multiple suspects through informants and went to their boarding house at 32 Fulton Street, Allegheny City (present-day North Side). While at the scene Detective Fitzgerald was shot and killed as he and other officers entered the room. After a brief shootout inside the room, three suspects, two of whom were brothers, were arrested and charged with the murder of the grocer. In June 1901, during the trial, all three suspects were implicated in 27 burglaries that had occurred in Pittsburgh since the beginning of the year. All three suspects were found guilty of first-degree murder and sentenced to death in the murder of the grocer. One of the suspects' death sentence was commuted to life imprisonment for his earlier testimony against the brothers during the trial. On January 30th, 1902, shortly before their execution date the two suspects escaped from the Allegheny County Jail with the help of the warden's wife, who had smuggled them hacksaws and guns. The suspects were located by a posse two days later near Butler, Pennsylvania. As the posse closed in on them a shootout ensued and both suspects were shot and killed. During the shootout, both suspects attempted suicide. The warden's wife also attempted suicide but survived and was charged in connection with the escape. Detective Fitzgerald had served with the Pittsburgh Bureau of Police for 24 years.
Survivors
He was survived by his wife and six children.
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
BO-US-PA-D5D11EA0- 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
24 years. You could have gone home.
Detective Fitzgerald gave the Pittsburgh Bureau of Police 24 years. Still answering calls at the end.
Thank you for your service. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Detective Fitzgerald.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
Detective Patrick Edward Fitzgerald 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 Edward Fitzgerald's cause is highlighted.
How Patrick Edward Fitzgerald Compares
Offender Outcome
Shot and killed
When Felonious Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. Patrick Edward Fitzgerald is highlighted in Apr.
Weapons Used Against Officers
Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. Patrick Edward Fitzgerald 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.
