John Pawlowski
Agency patch
Police Officer

John Pawlowski

Philadelphia Police Department — Philadelphia, PA
Felonious
End of Watch February 13, 2009
Age 25
Tour of Duty 5 yrs 6 mo
The Vigil Panel 157 ›
Gender Male

Incident

Officer John Pawlowski was shot and killed after responding to a dispute between a cab driver and a male.

Officer Pawlowski and his partner responded to the Logan section of Philadelphia after a cab driver called 911 to report a dispute. During the dispute, the cab driver had told the suspect that he was going to call the police, to which the suspect responded,"'If you call police, I shoot you plus the police."

When the officers arrived, the cab driver pointed out the subject. Officer Pawlowski and his partner approached the male, who was dressed in a black, three-quarter-length coat. The suspect had his hands in his pockets. Officer Pawlowski ordered the suspect to show his hands. The suspect did not comply and immediately opened fire with a .357 handgun, shooting through the pocket of his coat. One round struck Officer Pawlowski in his bullet-resistant vest, and a second-round struck him in the chest, just above his vest.

Officer Pawlowski was able to return fire, striking the suspect once before falling to the ground, mortally wounded. Officer Pawlowski's partner and a third officer engaged the suspect in a gun battle, in which one officer was grazed, and the suspect was shot numerous times.

Officer Pawlowski was taken to Albert Einstein Medical Center, where he died from his wounds.

The suspect was arrested and charged with murder, attempted murder, and narcotics possession. On November 8, 2010, he was convicted of first-degree murder and sentenced to life without the possibility of parole.

Officer Pawlowski had served with the Philadelphia Police Department for 5 1/2 years. He is survived by his expectant wife. His brother also serves with the Philadelphia Police Department, and his father retired from the agency.

Survivors

He is survived by his expectant wife.

In Our Keeping

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August 2, 2026
Last updated
August 2, 2026

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Tributes

I never knew you. I am standing here anyway.
Police Officer Pawlowski gave the Philadelphia Police Department 5 years.
Thank you for your service to the Philadelphia community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Police Officer Pawlowski.

— 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 February 13, 2009
Tour of Duty 5 yrs 6 mo
Age 25
Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious
Cause Detail Gunfire
Weapon Handgun; .357 caliber

The Sacrifice · Felonious

John 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 2009, 59 officers in the United States were killed feloniously, the 129th heaviest of 213 years on record. The heaviest was 1921, with 248.

Every year on record · United States
II

Who

John was 25. 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. John had served 5.5 years; the middle length of service was 6 years.

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

When

February holds 7.4% 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; .357 caliber, in 0.1% of these deaths.

Every cause
Weapons recorded
V

His people

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

Across the years
VI

Where

Police Officer John Pawlowski

Philadelphia Police Department · End of Watch February 13, 2009

Where the Name Is Cut

National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial · Panel 41-W

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