Roll of Honor
Incident
Detective Joseph Etriss was shot and killed when he mistakenly entered the wrong home while searching for a man who had just assaulted his wife. He was searching for a murder suspect when his life located him and informed him that she had been assaulted. Believing the suspect had entered a nearby home on 13th Street, between Moore Street and Sigel Street, Detective Etriss went inside of it to arrest the man. However, he accidentally went inside of the wrong home. The homeowner, believing Detective Etriss was a burglar, shot him with a shotgun. Detective Etriss had served with the Philadelphia Police Department for 11 years and assigned to the City Hall Detective Squad.
Survivors
He was survived by his wife and three children.
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
BO-US-PA-55E3BD63- 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 never knew you. I am standing here anyway.
Detective Etriss gave the Philadelphia Police Department 10 years.
Thank you for your service to the Philadelphia community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Detective Etriss.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
Detective Joseph Henry Etriss 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.
National Cause Distribution
How Felonious compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. Joseph Henry Etriss's cause is highlighted.
How Joseph Henry Etriss Compares
When Felonious Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. Joseph Henry Etriss is highlighted in Mar.
Weapons Used Against Officers
Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. Joseph Henry Etriss was killed by gun.
Incident Location
Others Who Wore This Badge
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