Robert J. Ritchie
Agency patch
Detective

Robert J. Ritchie

Philadelphia Police Department — Philadelphia, PA
Veteran → Accident
End of Watch May 7, 1935
Age 46
Tour of Duty 14 yrs
Gender Male

Incident

Detective Robert Ritchie was shot and killed by a stray bullet near the intersection of 65th Street and Woodland Avenue while searching for burglary suspects.

Detective Ritchie and another Detective were talking to a subject in front of a business when three shots were heard, and Detective Ritchie was shot. The second detective carried Detective Ritchie inside a nearby doctor's office and then followed the direction of the shots. The detective located a subject with a gun in his hand in the rear yard at 8516 Bartram Street and was able to place the subject into custody without incident. Detective Ritchie was taken to Mercy Hospital, where he was pronounced dead shortly after arrival.

The subject was taken to the local police district and admitted to chasing a cat out of his pigeon dovecote by firing three shots and was unaware that his start bullet struck Detective Ritchie. The subject was held on a $2,500 bond and charged with the reckless use of a firearm and violation of the Witkins Firearm Act.

Detective Ritchie was a United States Navy veteran of World War I and had served with the Philadelphia Police Department for 14 years, assigned to the 5th Detective Division on 32nd Street and Woodland Avenue.

Survivors

He was survived by his wife, son, and brother, who also served with the Philadelphia Police Department.

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 served 1985 to 1993. You served too, before the badge - different uniform, same idea. You go where you are sent and you do not get to pick the call.
Detective Ritchie gave the Philadelphia Police Department 14 years.
Thank you for your service to the Philadelphia community. Thank you for your service before it. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, brother.

— 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 May 7, 1935
Tour of Duty 14 yrs
Age 46
Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Accident

Military Service

Robert J. Ritchie served in the U.S. Navy before joining law enforcement.

View full service record on salute.nw →

The Sacrifice · Accident

Robert is one of 8,276 officers lost to accidents in the United States, 30% of the 27,552 remembered there.

34,103 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 1935, 99 officers in the United States were lost to accidents, the 8th heaviest of 174 years on record. The heaviest was 1929, with 118.

Every year on record · United States
II

Who

Robert was 46. 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. Robert had served 14 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, 9.4%. Tuesdays: 14.1%.

By month
By day of the week
IV

How

Accident deaths account for 30% of all 27,552 deaths in the United States, the 2nd most common cause.

Every cause
Weapons recorded
V

His people

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

Across the years
VI

Where

Detective Robert J. Ritchie

Philadelphia Police Department · End of Watch May 7, 1935

Military Service

Robert J. Ritchie served in the U.S. Navy before joining law enforcement.

Visit Robert J. Ritchie’s page on salute.nw →

His full service record — units, decorations, where he served — is kept on salute.nw.

Where the Name Is Cut

National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial · Panel 30-WT

Also Remembered

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