Matthew J. Curran
Agency patch
Police Officer

Matthew J. Curran

Philadelphia Police Department — Philadelphia, PA
Felonious
End of Watch May 26, 1905
Age 28
Tour of Duty 5 mo
The Vigil Panel 20 ›
Gender Male

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

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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

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

The Sacrifice · Felonious

Matthew is one of 15,743 officers killed feloniously in the United States, 57.1% of the 27,551 remembered there.

33,917 officers are remembered on this memorial. Each number below is one of them.

  1. See the roll
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Compare against
I

Time

In 1905, 81 officers in the United States were killed feloniously, the 82nd heaviest of 213 years on record. The heaviest was 1921, with 248.

Every year on record · United States
II

Who

Matthew was 28. Of the 14,220 killed feloniously in the United States whose age is recorded, half were between 31 and 47; the middle age was 38. Matthew had served 0.4 years; the middle length of service was 6 years.

Age at death
Where he stood among them
Age by years of service
III

When

May holds 8% of these deaths in the United States; December holds the most, 9.4%. Fridays: 14.3%.

By month
By day of the week
IV

How

Felonious deaths account for 57.1% of all 27,551 deaths in the United States, the most common cause. The weapon recorded was handgun, in 23.4% of these deaths.

Every cause
Weapons recorded
V

His people

Philadelphia Police Department has at least 120 officers remembered here, Matthew among them.

Across the years
VI

Where

Police Officer Matthew J. Curran

Philadelphia Police Department · End of Watch May 26, 1905

Where the Name Is Cut

National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial · Panel 54-E

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