Roll of Honor
Joseph Eugene LeClaire, Jr.
Incident
Sergeant Joseph LeClaire was shot and killed when he and two other court officers attempted to serve a warrant on the 4900 block of Stenton Avenue on a suspect wanted for failing to appear in court.
The officers arrived at the suspect's residence at 1:42 am and were admitted into the apartment by a female. When the officers entered the residence, the wanted man opened fire, striking Sergeant LeClaire in the head and stomach. One of the other officers was shot in the stomach and the third was shot in the hand.
At least one of the other officers was able to return fire and wounded the suspect as he attempted to flee. The man was taken into custody a short time later. Sergeant LeClaire was transported to Albert Einstein University Hospital where he was pronounced dead approximately 2 hours later.
The suspect was convicted of first degree murder and sentenced to death March 13, 2006.
Sergeant LeClaire was a U.S. Marine Corps veteran. He had been assigned to the Court of Common Pleas for nine years.
Survivors
He is survived by his wife and two grown children.
In Our Keeping
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BO-US-PA-62F5EFA4- Stewardship
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- Added to badge.nw
- April 2, 2026
- Last updated
- July 23, 2026
Honored here by 1 sentinel - 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.
Sergeant LeClaire gave the First Judicial District of Pennsylvania Warrant Unit 9 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
Joseph Eugene LeClaire, Jr. served in the Marine Corps (1984â1995) before joining law enforcement.
Sergeant Joseph Eugene LeClaire, Jr. is one of 17,623 officers killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty across the full record of this memorial — 54.2% of all 32,508 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 6.9 percentage points below the national rate of 54.2%.
National Cause Distribution
How Felonious compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. Joseph Eugene LeClaire, Jr.'s cause is highlighted.
How Joseph Eugene LeClaire, Jr. Compares
Offender Outcome
Sentenced to death
When Felonious Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. Joseph Eugene LeClaire, Jr. is highlighted in Mar.
Weapons Used Against Officers
Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. Joseph Eugene LeClaire, Jr. was killed by handgun; .45 caliber.