Lieutenant Walter Louis Szwajkowski, Philadelphia Police Department, Pennsylvania

Lieutenant Walter Louis Szwajkowski

Philadelphia Police Department, Pennsylvania

End of Watch Sunday, June 27, 1976

Walter Louis Szwajkowski

Lieutenant Szwajkowski was shot and killed while investigating reports of a man threatening four people with a gun outside of a church. Lieutenant Szwajkowski, who was attending mass inside the church, confronted the man with his gun drawn when the man opened fire. Lieutenant Szwajkowski managed to return fire, killing the suspect.

Lieutenant Szwajkowski was survived by his wife and two children.

Bio

Age 45
Tour 22 years
Badge 73

Incident Details

Cause Gunfire
Weapon Handgun
Offender Shot and killed

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Most Recent Reflection

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It's been 40 years since me and my brother witness your bravery, I was 15 years old at that time going to church after delivering newspapers that morning, we watched as the car jacker forced those people out of that car at the red light, even though the one passenger was able to wrestle the gun from him, he pulled out another gun, at that time,someone went into the church to get you, as you came out of the church my brother and I told you that he had another gun, you acknowledged us, and as a true hero you went forward to face the bad man, you paid the ultimate sacrifice that day, I only meet you for a few seconds, but I will never forget you, especially this time of year, I think about your family and what they must have gone through, knowing what my family went through when officer pawlowski was killed in 2009, thank you Lieutenant Szwajkowski for your bravery and sacrifice , you are and always will be a Hero, RIP and God Bless your family and all police families.

Tim Weidenmiller
Witness that day

June 22, 2016