Cecil Ingling
Agency patch
Police Officer

Cecil Ingling

Philadelphia Police Department — Philadelphia, PA
Felonious
End of Watch January 30, 1947
Age 41
Tour of Duty 12 yrs 6 mo
Badge 15
The Vigil Panel 83 ›
Gender Male

Incident

Police Officer Cecil Ingling was shot and killed when he attempted to take action during a robbery of a supermarket at 1927 Fairmount Avenue while off duty. Officer Ingling and his family were outside the market when they heard shots coming from inside. Two robbers opened fire over the heads of customers when an employee threw a can of food at them. His wife and two children, 15 and 13, watched helplessly as one of two robbers who ran from the supermarket shot him five times when Officer Ingling grabbed him as he ran from the market. As the two suspects fled in their stolen getaway car, driven by a third man, other officers pursued. As the car zoomed around a sharp curve, the car leaned over on two wheels, and one of the suspects fell out and was captured. The captured suspect, 32, was convicted of Officer Ingling's murder and sentenced to death. His sentence was commuted to life in 1955. All three suspects were ex-convicts. The two who got away, 22 and 32, along with three others, were wanted for the armed robbery of a New Orleans bank of $113,000.00 three weeks before the grocery store robbery. On January 20, 1948, FBI agents captured the youngest suspect in Chicago. He was returned to Louisiana to be tried for the robbery first. On March 6, 1948, the third suspect was captured in Cleveland, Ohio. He was also returned to Louisiana. On April 30, 1948, both were returned to Philadelphia after they were sentenced to serve 35 years in a Federal prison when and if they were ever released in Pennsylvania. On June 6, 1948, one was sentenced to death for Officer Ingling's murder. His sentence was commuted to life in 1954. He was released on May 8, 1971. In 1975 he was arrested in Stratford, New Jersey, for possession of illegal firearms and burglary tools and was to be sent back to Pennsylvania to finish his sentence. After 90 days in jail, he was released because the Governor forgot to sign the extradition papers. In 1978 he was sentenced to 17 years after he and four ot

In Our Keeping

Permanent identifier
BO-US-PA-696F3047
Stewardship
Maintained by NeuraWeb Global Inc.
Added to badge.nw
April 2, 2026
Last updated
July 23, 2026

Honored here by 1 sentinel - 1 tribute.

Are you family? This record can be claimed and maintained by those who knew Cecil. Claim this record.

This page is permanent and free. No fee to view it, no advertising, no tracking, and no account required. It will not be taken down.

Tributes

I never knew you. I am standing here anyway.
Police Officer Ingling gave the Philadelphia Police Department 12 years.
Thank you for your service to the Philadelphia community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Police Officer Ingling.

— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993

Agency

Location Philadelphia, PA
Platform Identity ppd.philadelphia.pa.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch January 30, 1947
Tour of Duty 12 yrs 6 mo
Age 41
Badge Number 15
Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious
Weapon Handgun
Offender Sentenced to death

Police Officer Cecil Ingling is one of 17,623 officers killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty across the full record of this memorial — 54.2% of all 32,508 officers honored here.

In PA, 597 of 1,261 officers were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 47.3% of this state's fallen. That is 6.9 percentage points below the national rate of 54.2%.

At Philadelphia Police Department, 162 of 378 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 42.9% of this agency's fallen.

Philadelphia Police Department
162
of 378 officers
42.9% Felonious
PA — Statewide
597
of 1,261 officers
47.3% Felonious
Nationwide
17,623
of 32,508 officers
54.2% Felonious

National Cause Distribution

How Felonious compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. Cecil Ingling's cause is highlighted.

Felonious
17,623 (54.2%)
Accident
10,088 (31%)
Illness
2,974 (9.1%)
Cardiac
1,306 (4%)
Undetermined
260 (0.8%)
Suicide
256 (0.8%)
vehicular
1 (0%)

How Cecil Ingling Compares

Age at End of Watch
41
This officer
Avg for Felonious: 39.0 years
Years of Service
12.5
This officer
Avg for Felonious: 8.5 years

Offender Outcome

Sentenced to death

When Felonious Deaths Occur

Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. Cecil Ingling is highlighted in Jan.

Jan
1,392
Feb
1,295
Mar
1,373
Apr
1,517
May
1,505
Jun
1,443
Jul
1,587
Aug
1,516
Sep
1,553
Oct
1,371
Nov
1,447
Dec
1,624

Weapons Used Against Officers

Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. Cecil Ingling was killed by handgun.

Gun; Unknown type
5,083
Handgun
2,077
Shotgun
922
Officer's handgun
909
Automobile; Alcohol involved
530
Rifle
518

Incident Location