David Allen Barr
Agency patch
Police Officer

David Allen Barr

Pittsburgh Bureau of Police — Pittsburgh, PA
Accident
End of Watch May 3, 1983
Age 37
Tour of Duty 15 yrs 2 mo
Badge 15
The Vigil Panel 127 ›
Gender Male

Incident

Police Officer David Barr was accidentally shot and killed while at the Department range. A range instructor was checking the firearm of another officer, when it discharged, striking Officer Barr in the chest. He was taken to Presbyterian University Hospital where he died shortly after arrival. Officer Barr had served with the Pittsburgh Bureau of Police for 15 years and was attached to the Special Operations Division where he was trained in bomb disposal and hostage negotiator.

Survivors

He was survived by his wife and daughter.

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 Barr gave the Pittsburgh Bureau of Police 15 years.
Thank you for your service. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Police Officer Barr.

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

Agency

Type Federal Agency
Location Pittsburgh, Allegheny County, PA
Platform Identity pittpd.fed.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch May 3, 1983
Tour of Duty 15 yrs 2 mo
Age 37
Badge Number 15
Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Accident

The Sacrifice · Accident

David is one of 8,275 officers lost to accidents in the United States, 30% 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
  2. See the roll
Compare against
I

Time

In 1983, 74 officers in the United States were lost to accidents, the 36th heaviest of 174 years on record. The heaviest was 1929, with 118.

Every year on record · United States
II

Who

David was 37. Of the 7,718 lost to accidents in the United States whose age is recorded, half were between 29 and 46; the middle age was 36. David had served 15.2 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 8.6% of these deaths in the United States; August holds the most, 9.5%. Tuesdays: 14.1%.

By month
By day of the week
IV

How

Accident deaths account for 30% of all 27,551 deaths in the United States, the 2nd most common cause.

Every cause
Weapons recorded
V

His people

Pittsburgh Bureau of Police has 101 officers remembered here, David among them.

Across the years
VI

Where

Police Officer David Allen Barr

Pittsburgh Bureau of Police · End of Watch May 3, 1983

Where the Name Is Cut

National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial · Panel 31-W

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