Michael S. Lingham
Agency patch
Sergeant

Michael S. Lingham

Philadelphia Police Department — Philadelphia, PA
Felonious
End of Watch April 14, 1974
Age 29
Tour of Duty 11 yrs
Badge 8588
The Vigil Panel 113 ›
Gender Male

Incident

Sergeant Lingham succumbed to a gunshot wound a month earlier by a suspect while attempting to serve a search warrant during a drug raid. Sergeant Lingham was shot in the head while he and other officers entered an apartment in the 1600 block of S 20th Street. The 23-year-old subject was wounded by other officers in an exchange of gunfire. Sergeant Lingham was rushed to Graduate Hospital where he remained in a coma till his death. The suspect, 22, was out on bail for attempted murder. A year earlier he threatened another officer with a shotgun. He was convicted of second degree murder and narcotics possession in connection with Sergeant Lingham's death and sentenced to 17 to 35 years. Sergeant Lingham had served with the Philadelphia Police Department for 11 years.

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.
Sergeant Lingham gave the Philadelphia Police Department 11 years.
Thank you for your service to the Philadelphia community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Sergeant Lingham.

— 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 April 14, 1974
Tour of Duty 11 yrs
Age 29
Badge Number 8588
Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious
Weapon Handgun

The Sacrifice · Felonious

Michael 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 1974, 162 officers in the United States were killed feloniously, the 22nd heaviest of 213 years on record. The heaviest was 1921, with 248.

Every year on record · United States
II

Who

Michael was 29. 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. Michael had served 11 years; the middle length of service was 6 years.

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

When

April holds 8.4% of these deaths in the United States; December holds the most, 9.4%. Sundays: 15.2%.

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, Michael among them.

Across the years
VI

Where

Sergeant Michael S. Lingham

Philadelphia Police Department · End of Watch April 14, 1974

Where the Name Is Cut

National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial · Panel 7-E

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