Joseph V. Campbell Jr.
Agency patch
Policeman

Joseph V. Campbell Jr.

Philadelphia Police Department — Philadelphia, PA
Felonious
End of Watch October 23, 1931
Age 29
Tour of Duty 1 yrs 11 mo
Badge 1439
The Vigil Panel 63 ›
Gender Male

Incident

Policeman Campbell was shot and killed as he and state troopers attempted to arrest four suspects who had escaped from the New Jersey State Penitentiary. The officers located the escapees in a corn field near Oxford Valley, Pennsylvania, and a two-hour shootout ensued. Policeman Campbell and one of the suspects were shot and killed during the shootout. One of the other suspects committed suicide when he was surrounded. The remaining two suspects were able to break through the police lines and fled towards New York.

In Our Keeping

Permanent identifier
BO-US-PA-8EF4647B
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

You barely got started.
Policeman Campbell gave the Philadelphia Police Department 1 year.
Thank you for your service to the Philadelphia community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Policeman Campbell.

— 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 October 23, 1931
Tour of Duty 1 yrs 11 mo
Age 29
Badge Number 1439
Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious
Weapon Gun

Policeman Joseph V. Campbell Jr. 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. Joseph V. Campbell Jr.'s cause is highlighted.

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

How Joseph V. Campbell Jr. Compares

Age at Death
29
This officer
Avg for Felonious: 39.0 years
Years of Service
1.9
This officer
Avg for Felonious: 8.4 years

When Felonious Deaths Occur

Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. Joseph V. Campbell Jr. is highlighted in Oct.

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. Joseph V. Campbell Jr. 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