Policeman Thomas Dowling
Philadelphia Police Department
Pennsylvania
End of Watch: Wednesday, June 26, 1912
Biographical Info
Age: 23
Tour of Duty: Appointed July 11, 1911
Badge Number: 703
Unit of assignment: Third St. and Fairmount Ave. station
Incident Details
Cause of Death: Gunfire
Date of Incident: Wednesday, June 26, 1912
Weapon Used: Gun; Unknown type
Suspect Info: Homer C. Wiggins
Officer Thomas J. Dowling, 24, was shot and killed at 5th and Vine sts. on June 26, 1912, while trying to arrest a 17-year-old boy on suspicion of theft in a pawn shop at 3rd Street and Fairmount Avenue. Police said the boy, Homer C. Wiggins, had shot Dowling, then kicked the dying man in the head twice as he fled. Dowling had been on the force less than a year. Wiggins was arrested nearby after a short chase involving an officer and several citizens.
Wiggins escaped from Eastern Penitentiary prison and committed suicide in Wilmington, Delaware after a shoot-out with police on September 29, 1913.
Officer Dowling was interred June 28, 1912.
Sources:
1. The Officer Down Memorial Page, Inc.http://www.odmp.org/officer/4260-policeman-thomas-dowling
2. Philadelphia Police Department
3. First Annual Message of Rudolph Blankenberg, Mayor of the City of Philadelphia. Vol. 1 (1912), page 583.
4. Easton Free Press, September 29, 1913, pages 1, 11.
5. Holy Cross Cemetery
Philadelphia Police Department
Pennsylvania
End of Watch: Wednesday, June 26, 1912
Biographical Info
Age: 23
Tour of Duty: Appointed July 11, 1911
Badge Number: 703
Unit of assignment: Third St. and Fairmount Ave. station
Incident Details
Cause of Death: Gunfire
Date of Incident: Wednesday, June 26, 1912
Weapon Used: Gun; Unknown type
Suspect Info: Homer C. Wiggins
Officer Thomas J. Dowling, 24, was shot and killed at 5th and Vine sts. on June 26, 1912, while trying to arrest a 17-year-old boy on suspicion of theft in a pawn shop at 3rd Street and Fairmount Avenue. Police said the boy, Homer C. Wiggins, had shot Dowling, then kicked the dying man in the head twice as he fled. Dowling had been on the force less than a year. Wiggins was arrested nearby after a short chase involving an officer and several citizens.
Wiggins escaped from Eastern Penitentiary prison and committed suicide in Wilmington, Delaware after a shoot-out with police on September 29, 1913.
Officer Dowling was interred June 28, 1912.
Sources:
1. The Officer Down Memorial Page, Inc.http://www.odmp.org/officer/4260-policeman-thomas-dowling
2. Philadelphia Police Department
3. First Annual Message of Rudolph Blankenberg, Mayor of the City of Philadelphia. Vol. 1 (1912), page 583.
4. Easton Free Press, September 29, 1913, pages 1, 11.
5. Holy Cross Cemetery
Policeman Thomas Dowling
Philadelphia Police Department
Pennsylvania
End of Watch: Wednesday, June 26, 1912
Biographical Info
Age: 23
Tour of Duty: Appointed July 11, 1911
Badge Number: 703
Unit of assignment: Third St. and Fairmount Ave. station
Incident Details
Cause of Death: Gunfire
Date of Incident: Wednesday, June 26, 1912
Weapon Used: Gun; Unknown type
Suspect Info: Homer C. Wiggins
Officer Thomas J. Dowling, 24, was shot and killed at 5th and Vine sts. on June 26, 1912, while trying to arrest a 17-year-old boy on suspicion of theft in a pawn shop at 3rd Street and Fairmount Avenue. Police said the boy, Homer C. Wiggins, had shot Dowling, then kicked the dying man in the head twice as he fled. Dowling had been on the force less than a year. Wiggins was arrested nearby after a short chase involving an officer and several citizens.
Wiggins escaped from Eastern Penitentiary prison and committed suicide in Wilmington, Delaware after a shoot-out with police on September 29, 1913.
Officer Dowling was interred June 28, 1912.
Sources:
1. The Officer Down Memorial Page, Inc.http://www.odmp.org/officer/4260-policeman-thomas-dowling
2. Philadelphia Police Department
3. First Annual Message of Rudolph Blankenberg, Mayor of the City of Philadelphia. Vol. 1 (1912), page 583.
4. Easton Free Press, September 29, 1913, pages 1, 11.
5. Holy Cross Cemetery
Philadelphia Police Department
Pennsylvania
End of Watch: Wednesday, June 26, 1912
Biographical Info
Age: 23
Tour of Duty: Appointed July 11, 1911
Badge Number: 703
Unit of assignment: Third St. and Fairmount Ave. station
Incident Details
Cause of Death: Gunfire
Date of Incident: Wednesday, June 26, 1912
Weapon Used: Gun; Unknown type
Suspect Info: Homer C. Wiggins
Officer Thomas J. Dowling, 24, was shot and killed at 5th and Vine sts. on June 26, 1912, while trying to arrest a 17-year-old boy on suspicion of theft in a pawn shop at 3rd Street and Fairmount Avenue. Police said the boy, Homer C. Wiggins, had shot Dowling, then kicked the dying man in the head twice as he fled. Dowling had been on the force less than a year. Wiggins was arrested nearby after a short chase involving an officer and several citizens.
Wiggins escaped from Eastern Penitentiary prison and committed suicide in Wilmington, Delaware after a shoot-out with police on September 29, 1913.
Officer Dowling was interred June 28, 1912.
Sources:
1. The Officer Down Memorial Page, Inc.http://www.odmp.org/officer/4260-policeman-thomas-dowling
2. Philadelphia Police Department
3. First Annual Message of Rudolph Blankenberg, Mayor of the City of Philadelphia. Vol. 1 (1912), page 583.
4. Easton Free Press, September 29, 1913, pages 1, 11.
5. Holy Cross Cemetery
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