Thomas Joseph Trench
Agency patch
Police Officer

Thomas Joseph Trench

Philadelphia Police Department — Philadelphia, PA
Felonious
End of Watch May 28, 1985
Age 43
Tour of Duty 11 yrs
Badge 3669
The Vigil Panel 287 ›
Gender Male

Incident

Officer Thomas Trench was shot and killed in an ambush attack as he sat in his patrol car at 17th and Spring Garden streets. The suspect was convicted of Officer Trench's murder, but the conviction was overturned and he was released. He was later sent to prison on unrelated charges. In 2008, the suspect was convicted a second time for Officer Trench's murder and was sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole. Officer Trench had served with the agency for 11 years.

Survivors

He is survived by his wife and two daughters.

In Our Keeping

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

— 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 28, 1985
Tour of Duty 11 yrs
Age 43
Badge Number 3669
Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious
Weapon Handgun

The Sacrifice · Felonious

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

34,117 officers are remembered on this memorial. Each number below is one of them.

  1. See the roll
  2. See the roll
Compare against
I

Time

In 1985, 99 officers in the United States were killed feloniously, the 52nd heaviest of 213 years on record. The heaviest was 1921, with 248.

Every year on record · United States
II

Who

Thomas was 43. 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. Thomas 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

May holds 8% of these deaths in the United States; December holds the most, 9.4%. Tuesdays: 13.4%.

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, Thomas among them.

Across the years
VI

Where

Police Officer Thomas Joseph Trench

Philadelphia Police Department · End of Watch May 28, 1985

Where the Name Is Cut

National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial · Panel 58-W

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