Elmer E. Findley
Agency patch
Policeman

Elmer E. Findley

Philadelphia Police Department — Philadelphia, PA
Felonious
End of Watch December 29, 1891
Age 27
Tour of Duty 1 yrs 7 mo
The Vigil Panel 11 ›
Gender Male

Incident

Policeman Elmer Findley was shot and instantly killed by an 18-year-old man he had caught in the act of breaking and entering a store at Fourth Street and Commerce Street. Another policeman was shot in the arm by the subject, who was later captured.

The suspect was convicted of second degree murder and sentenced to 12 years in prison February 27th, 1893.

In Our Keeping

Permanent identifier
BO-US-PA-F24AB76B
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

135 years is a long time for a name to go unread. Not today.
Policeman Findley gave the Philadelphia Police Department 1 year.
Thank you for your service to the Philadelphia community. Gone but never to be forgotten.

— 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 December 29, 1891
Tour of Duty 1 yrs 7 mo
Age 27
Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious
Weapon Gun

Policeman Elmer E. Findley 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 97,772 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
1
of 97,772 officers
0% Felonious

National Cause Distribution

How Felonious compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. Elmer E. Findley's cause is highlighted.

Felonious
1 (0%)
Accident
1 (0%)
Illness
1 (0%)
Cardiac
1 (0%)
Undetermined
1 (0%)
Suicide
1 (0%)

How Elmer E. Findley Compares

Age at Death
27
This officer
Avg for Felonious: 39.0 years
Years of Service
1.6
This officer
Avg for Felonious: 8.4 years

When Felonious Deaths Occur

Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. Elmer E. Findley is highlighted in Dec.

Jan
1,392
Feb
1,295
Mar
1,373
Apr
1,516
May
1,504
Jun
1,442
Jul
1,587
Aug
1,517
Sep
1,491
Oct
1,371
Nov
1,447
Dec
1,624

Weapons Used Against Officers

Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. Elmer E. Findley was killed by gun.

Handgun
3,684
Gun
3,592
Gun; Unknown type
1,492
Shotgun
1,109
Rifle
935
Officer's handgun
909

Incident Location