Roll of Honor
Incident
Police Officer James Metz suffered a fatal heart attack inside the Second Police District shortly after making an arrest.
He had just placed the prisoner inside a jail cell when he was stricken inside the hearing room of the station house.
Officer Metz was a Union Army veteran of the Civil war and had served with the Philadelphia Police Department for 10 years.
Survivors
He was survived by his wife.
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
BO-US-PA-AE1F384C- Stewardship
- Maintained by NeuraWeb Global Inc.
- Added to badge.nw
- August 2, 2026
- Last updated
- August 2, 2026
Honored here by 1 tribute.
Are you family? This record can be claimed and maintained by those who knew James. Claim this record.
Also honored at salute.nw — U.S. Army. One record, 2 gates. James is one person.
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 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 Metz gave the Philadelphia Police Department 10 years.
Thank you for your service to the Philadelphia community. Thank you for your service before it. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, brother.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
Military Service
James L. Metz served in the U.S. Army before joining law enforcement.
Police Officer James L. Metz is one of 1 officers lost to cardiac events in the line of duty across the full record of this memorial — 0% of all 97,759 officers honored here.
In PA, 118 of 1,261 officers were lost to cardiac events in the line of duty — 9.4% of this state's fallen. That is 9.4 percentage points above the national rate of 0%.
At Philadelphia Police Department, 37 of 378 officers on record were lost to cardiac events in the line of duty — 9.8% of this agency's fallen.
National Cause Distribution
How Cardiac compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. James L. Metz's cause is highlighted.
How James L. Metz Compares
When Cardiac Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Cardiac deaths across the full memorial record. James L. Metz is highlighted in Sep.
Incident Location
Military Service
James L. Metz served in the U.S. Army before joining law enforcement.
Visit James L. Metz’s page on salute.nw →
His full service record — units, decorations, where he served — is kept on salute.nw.
Others Who Wore This Badge
377 officers from Philadelphia Police Department are honored on badge.nw. Showing the 16 most recent.
