James A. McKale Jr.
Agency patch
Police Officer

James A. McKale Jr.

Philadelphia Police Department — Philadelphia, PA
Veteran → Accident
End of Watch September 15, 1974
Age 28
Tour of Duty 3 yrs 6 mo
Badge 5139
Gender Male

Incident

Police Officer James McKale was killed in an automobile crash on West River Drive near the Strawberry Mansion Bridge. He had just reported to duty and was en route for routine patrol when he lost control of his vehicle at 7:28 a.m. He was transported to the Medical College of Pennsylvania, where he died from his injuries. Officer McKale was a U.S. Navy veteran and had served with the Philadelphia Police Department for three and a half years. He was survived by his parents and sister. His father was a retired Philadelphia Police Department officer.

Survivors

He was survived by his parents and sister.

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. Navy. One record, 2 gates. James 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 McKale gave the Philadelphia Police Department 3 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 September 15, 1974
Tour of Duty 3 yrs 6 mo
Age 28
Badge Number 5139
Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Accident

Military Service

James A. McKale Jr. served in the U.S. Navy before joining law enforcement.

View full service record on salute.nw →

The Sacrifice · Accident

James 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 1974, 98 officers in the United States were lost to accidents, the 9th heaviest of 174 years on record. The heaviest was 1929, with 118.

Every year on record · United States
II

Who

James was 28. 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. James had served 3.5 years; the middle length of service was 6 years.

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

When

September holds 9.2% of these deaths in the United States; August holds the most, 9.4%. Sundays: 14%.

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, James among them.

Across the years
VI

Where

Police Officer James A. McKale Jr.

Philadelphia Police Department · End of Watch September 15, 1974

Military Service

James A. McKale Jr. served in the U.S. Navy before joining law enforcement.

Visit James A. McKale 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

Also Remembered

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