Roll of Honor

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Policeman

David H. Wiley

Philadelphia Police Department — Philadelphia, PA

Veteran → Felonious

End of Watch April 10, 1932

Age 31

Tour of Duty 6 yrs

Badge 3245

The Vigil Panel 64 ›

Gender Male

Incident Service The Sacrifice Military Department 377

Incident

Policeman David Wiley was shot and killed as he and his partner investigated a suspicious vehicle parked in front of a business on Market Street near Third Street. After observing two men exit the building, place bundles in the car, and then return to the building, the officers approached the vehicle. A man sitting inside shot and killed Policeman Wiley, and then sped away. Four men, 19, 19, 20, and 22, were arrested nine days later and charged with Policeman Wiley's murder. All four were convicted of murder. Three were sentenced to life in prison. The 19-year-old killer was sentenced to death, but he was granted a new trial and sentenced to life. In June of 1942, he was pardoned by Governor Arthur H. James. From 1944 until his death, he had been charged with stabbing a woman, returned to prison for violating his parole, served another sentence for murder, worked as an enforcer and extortionist for a Philadelphia Mafia family, released from custody after citizens were fearful of testifying against him, convicted of burglary, and paroled again after saving the life of a guard who was stabbed during a riot at the Eastern Penitentiary. On December 25, 1975, he was shot and killed by a man he was arguing with in a Philadelphia bar. The group of burglars was suspected in the murder of Policeman William Henderson one month earlier, but were never charged due to a lack of evidence. Policeman Wiley was a U.S Navy World War I veteran and had served with the Philadelphia Police Department for six years.

Survivors

He was survived by his parents and six siblings.

In Our Keeping

Permanent identifier: BO-US-PA-E5A0CED4
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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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.
Policeman Wiley gave the Philadelphia Police Department 6 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

Department Philadelphia Police Department

Type Police Department

Location Philadelphia, Philadelphia County, PA

Platform Identity ppd.philadelphia.pa.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch April 10, 1932

Tour of Duty 6 yrs

Age 31

Badge Number 3245

Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious

Weapon Gun

Military Service

David H. Wiley served in the the United States military before joining law enforcement.

View full service record on salute.nw →

Policeman David H. Wiley is one of 1 officers killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty across the full record of this memorial — 0% of all 97,759 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 47.3 percentage points above the national rate of 0%.

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

of 97,759 officers

0% Felonious