Roll of Honor
Incident
Lieutenant Walter Szwajkowski was shot and killed while investigating reports of a man threatening four people with a gun outside of a church. Lieutenant Szwajkowski, who was attending mass inside the church, confronted the man with his gun drawn when the man opened fire. Lieutenant Szwajkowski managed to return fire, killing the suspect. Lieutenant Szwajkowski had served with the Philadelphia Police Department for 22 years.
Survivors
He was survived by his wife and two children.
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
BO-US-PA-D7635604- Stewardship
- Maintained by NeuraWeb Global Inc.
- Added to badge.nw
- August 2, 2026
- Last updated
- August 2, 2026
Honored here by 1 sentinel - 1 tribute.
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Tributes
22 years. You could have gone home.
Lieutenant Szwajkowski gave the Philadelphia Police Department 22 years. Still answering calls at the end.
Thank you for your service to the Philadelphia community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Lieutenant Szwajkowski.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
Lieutenant Walter Louis Szwajkowski is one of 17,558 officers killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty across the full record of this memorial — 53.9% of all 32,585 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 6.6 percentage points below the national rate of 53.9%.
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.
National Cause Distribution
How Felonious compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. Walter Louis Szwajkowski's cause is highlighted.
How Walter Louis Szwajkowski Compares
When Felonious Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. Walter Louis Szwajkowski is highlighted in Jun.
Weapons Used Against Officers
Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. Walter Louis Szwajkowski was killed by handgun.
Incident Location
Others Who Wore This Badge
377 officers from Philadelphia Police Department are honored on badge.nw. Showing the 16 most recent.
