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Matthew J. Curran
Agency patch
Police Officer

Matthew J. Curran

Philadelphia Police Department — Philadelphia, PA
Felonious
United States flag Pennsylvania flag
End of Watch May 26, 1905
Age 28
Tour of Duty 5 mo
The Vigil Panel 20 ›
Gender Male
Incident Service The Sacrifice Memorials 1 Keepsakes Department 378

Incident

Police Officer Matthew Curran was shot and killed when he responded to a complaint from a woman who said her son had severely beaten her. The son shot Officer Curran as he attempted to place the man under arrest at the rear of the home at 1304 Frankford Avenue. The 32-year-old suspect was never apprehended. Police Officer Curran had served with the Philadelphia Police Department for five months. He was assigned to the Front and Master Streets Station.

In Our Keeping

Permanent identifier
NW-HKNH-YG94-Y earlier record number BO-US-PA-27384E33
Stewardship
Maintained by NeuraWeb Global Inc.
Added to badge.nw
August 2, 2026
Last updated
August 2, 2026

Honored here by 1 tribute.

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Tributes

I never knew you. I am standing here anyway.
Police Officer Curran 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 Curran.

— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993

Agency

Department Philadelphia Police Department
Type Police Department
Location Philadelphia, Philadelphia County, PA
Platform Identity ppd.philadelphia.pa.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch May 26, 1905
Tour of Duty 5 mo
Age 28
Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious
Weapon Handgun

Police Officer Matthew J. Curran is one of 1 officers killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty across the full record of this memorial — 0% of all 97,773 officers honored here.

In PA, 598 of 1,262 officers were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 47.4% of this state's fallen. That is 47.4 percentage points above the national rate of 0%.

At Philadelphia Police Department, 163 of 379 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 43% of this agency's fallen.

Philadelphia Police Department
163
of 379 officers
43% Felonious
PA — Statewide
598
of 1,262 officers
47.4% Felonious
Nationwide
1
of 97,773 officers
0% Felonious

National Cause Distribution

How Felonious compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. Matthew J. Curran's cause is highlighted.

Felonious
1 (0%)
Accident
1 (0%)
Illness
1 (0%)
Cardiac
1 (0%)
Undetermined
1 (0%)
Suicide
1 (0%)

How Matthew J. Curran Compares

Age at Death
28
This officer
Avg for Felonious: 39.0 years
Years of Service
0.4
This officer
Avg for Felonious: 8.4 years

When Felonious Deaths Occur

Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. Matthew J. Curran is highlighted in May.

Jan
1,392
Feb
1,295
Mar
1,373
Apr
1,516
May
1,504
Jun
1,442
Jul
1,587
Aug
1,517
Sep
1,491
Oct
1,371
Nov
1,447
Dec
1,624

Weapons Used Against Officers

Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. Matthew J. Curran was killed by handgun.

Handgun
3,684
Gun
3,592
Gun; Unknown type
1,492
Shotgun
1,109
Rifle
935
Officer's handgun
909

Incident Location

Where the Name Is Cut

National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial · Panel 54-E

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