Joseph P. McGinn
Agency patch
Detective

Joseph P. McGinn

Philadelphia Police Department — Philadelphia, PA
Felonious
End of Watch October 3, 1920
Age 46
Tour of Duty 23 yrs
The Vigil Panel 39 ›
Gender Male

Incident

Detective Joseph McGinn was shot to death during a raid on a gambling den at 816 Passyunk Avenue in South Philadelphia. As the detectives raided the establishment 10 masked gunmen entered and attempted to rob it. Detective McGinn, who was on vacation, had volunteered for the assignment. His killer was identified, arrested, and executed in the electric chair on February 22nd, 1922. Detective McGinn was a 23-year veteran of the force.

Survivors

He was survived by his wife, son, and mother.

In Our Keeping

Permanent identifier
BO-US-PA-489241B4
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

23 years. You could have gone home.
Detective McGinn gave the Philadelphia Police Department 23 years. Still answering calls at the end.
Thank you for your service to the Philadelphia community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Detective McGinn.

— 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 3, 1920
Tour of Duty 23 yrs
Age 46
Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious
Weapon Gun

Detective Joseph P. McGinn 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 P. McGinn's cause is highlighted.

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

How Joseph P. McGinn Compares

Age at Death
46
This officer
Avg for Felonious: 39.0 years
Years of Service
23
This officer
Avg for Felonious: 8.4 years

When Felonious Deaths Occur

Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. Joseph P. McGinn 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 P. McGinn 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