Hamburg Borough Police Department, Pennsylvania
End of Watch Saturday, May 12, 1928
Add to My HeroesWilson H. Lewars
Chief Wilson Lewars was shot and killed as he and his patrolman interrupted five men looting the Paterson Silk Plant. The patrolman was hit with two pellets of buckshot in his leg and face but recovered.
Pennsylvania State Police later apprehended four of the suspects. All four were convicted of first-degree murder and sentenced to life on June 13, 1929. One died at Eastern Penitentiary on September 9, 1934. One was pardoned on September 24, 1943, and another was released on March 24, 1945. The fourth had his sentence reduced in 1944. On December 1, 1939, his brother and the fifth suspect were apprehended in Atlantic City, New Jersey. He was charged with complicity in Chief Lewars' murder.
Chief Lewars was a Quartermaster Sergeant in the Spanish American War and a Pennsylvania National Guard veteran who had served with the Hamburg Borough Police Department for five years. He was survived by his wife.
Bio
- Age 60
- Tour 5 years
- Badge Not available
- Military Veteran
Incident Details
- Cause Gunfire
- Weapon Handgun
- Offender Sentenced to life
Most Recent Reflection
View all 10 ReflectionsChief Lewars was the first LODD for the Hamburg Police Department. Today , 12 May 2024 Corporal Chase and I participated in the National Police week events in Washington DC. We were part of the road to hope ride from New Jersey to Washington DC to commemorate Chief Lewars Service and the sacrifices of countless others.
Chief Anthony M Kuklinski
Hamburg Police Department (PA)
May 12, 2024
Recent LODD Deaths
![Segus R. Jolivette](https://www.odmp.org/media/thumb/125/officer/27106/c_2024_jolivette.jpg)
Senior Corporal Segus R. Jolivette
Lafayette Police Department, LA
EOW: July 25, 2024
![Mohamed Said](https://www.odmp.org/media/thumb/125/officer/27101/police-officer-mohamed-said.jpg)
Corporal Mohamed Said
Melvindale Police Department, MI
EOW: July 21, 2024
![Edgar Ordonez](https://www.odmp.org/media/thumb/125/officer/27100/c_edgar-ordonez.jpg)
Probationary Police Officer Edgar Ordonez
New York City Police Department, NY
EOW: July 10, 2024
![Robert William Sumner](https://www.odmp.org/media/thumb/125/officer/27096/c_robert-sumner.png)
Corporal Robert William Sumner
Oklahoma Department of Corrections, OK
EOW: July 14, 2024
![Matthew Bowen](https://www.odmp.org/media/thumb/125/officer/27095/police-officer-matthew-bowen.jpg)
Police Officer Matthew Bowen
Vacaville Police Department, CA
EOW: July 11, 2024
Deputy Sheriff Fernando Esqueda
Harris County Sheriff's Office, TX
EOW: July 11, 2024
![Kevin Linn Palmer](https://www.odmp.org/media/thumb/125/officer/27091/c_k._palmer.jpg)
Assistant Chief Kevin Linn Palmer
North Richland Hills Police Department, TX
EOW: May 1, 2024
![Jamieson Ritter](https://www.odmp.org/media/thumb/125/officer/27085/police-officer-jamieson-ritter.jpg)
Police Officer Jamieson Ritter
Cleveland Division of Police, OH
EOW: July 4, 2024
![William Butler, Jr.](https://www.odmp.org/media/thumb/125/officer/27084/c_butler-bill.jpg)
Deputy Sheriff William Butler, Jr.
Hillsdale County Sheriff's Office, MI
EOW: June 27, 2024