Ernest Wilson Davis Jr.
Agency patch
Police Officer

Ernest Wilson Davis Jr.

Philadelphia Police Department — Philadelphia, PA
Veteran → Felonious
End of Watch July 16, 1980
Age 33
Tour of Duty 4 yrs 2 mo
Badge 1628
Gender Male

Incident

Police Officer Ernest Davis was shot and killed after responding to a call for a man with a gun at a restaurant at 3707 North Broad Street at approximately 3:35 am. He located the suspect in a van that was parked nearby. As he approached the van one of its occupants opened fire, mortally wounding him. He was able to return fire as the van fled the scene but did not strike the man. A detective who happened to be in the area arrested the subjects after discovering the van stopped nearby. The man who shot Officer Davis was convicted of murder and sentenced to death. He died of natural causes while awaiting his execution on July 24th, 2010. Officer Davis was a U.S Air Force veteran and had served with the Philadelphia Police Department for four years.

Survivors

He was survived by his wife, 5-year-old son, and three siblings.

In Our Keeping

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Stewardship
Maintained by NeuraWeb Global Inc.
Added to badge.nw
August 2, 2026
Last updated
August 2, 2026

Honored here by 1 tribute.

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Also honored at salute.nw — U.S. Air Force. One record, 2 gates. Ernest is one person.

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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.
Police Officer Davis gave the Philadelphia Police Department 4 years.
Thank you for your service to the Philadelphia community, and 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 July 16, 1980
Tour of Duty 4 yrs 2 mo
Age 33
Badge Number 1628
Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious
Weapon Gun

Military Service

Ernest Wilson Davis Jr. served in the U.S. Air Force before joining law enforcement.

View full service record on salute.nw →

The Sacrifice · Felonious

Ernest is one of 15,743 officers killed feloniously in the United States, 57.1% 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 1980, 127 officers in the United States were killed feloniously, the 37th heaviest of 213 years on record. The heaviest was 1921, with 248.

Every year on record · United States
II

Who

Ernest was 33. Of the 14,219 killed feloniously in the United States whose age is recorded, half were between 31 and 47; the middle age was 38. Ernest had served 4.2 years; the middle length of service was 6 years.

Age at death
Where he stood among them
Age by years of service
III

When

July holds 9.3% of these deaths in the United States; December holds the most, 9.4%. Wednesdays: 12.9%.

By month
By day of the week
IV

How

Felonious deaths account for 57.1% of all 27,552 deaths in the United States, the most common cause. The weapon recorded was gun, in 22.8% of these deaths.

Every cause
Weapons recorded
V

His people

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

Across the years
VI

Where

Police Officer Ernest Wilson Davis Jr.

Philadelphia Police Department · End of Watch July 16, 1980

Military Service

Ernest Wilson Davis Jr. served in the U.S. Air Force before joining law enforcement.

Visit Ernest Wilson Davis Jr.’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 26-W

Also Remembered

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