Roll of Honor
Incident
Policeman Clowry died of a wound he received on November 21st, 1932, when he was shot in the head by bandits he caught robbing a building and loan at Richmond Street and Indiana Avenue. Patrolman Matthew Clowry was detailed to guard a meeting of the Commonwealth Building and Loan Association on the evening of November 21, 1932. Shortly before nine o’clock, three masked and armed men burst through the doorway and shouted “Hands up!” Looking straight at the barrels of two revolvers and a sawed off shot gun, only ten feet away, Patrolman Clowry disregarded the call and reached for his own revolver. At the same instant two of the bandits shot point blank at his head and both a revolver bullet and the charge from the gun struck the front of his cap and inflicted a bad scalp wound above his right eye. Stunned by the shot, the patrolman fell, and although semi-conscious while another bandit stood over him, he tried to pull his gun on the gang as they ran from the building with the stolen cash. He succeeded in shooting once at the five bandits as they left in an automobile and then went to a Police Signal Box to report the hold-up, at which point he collapsed from wounds and loss of blood. The suspects were later captured because of a description given by Policeman Clowry. Policeman Clowry had served with the Philadelphia Police Department for 22 years.
Survivors
He was survived by his wife and four children.
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
BO-US-PA-1E13A28F- 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
22 years. You could have gone home.
Policeman Clowry gave the Philadelphia Police Department 22 years. Still answering calls at the end.
Thank you for your service to the Philadelphia community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Policeman Clowry.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
Policeman Matthew Clowry 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. Matthew Clowry's cause is highlighted.
How Matthew Clowry Compares
When Felonious Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. Matthew Clowry is highlighted in Mar.
Weapons Used Against Officers
Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. Matthew Clowry was killed by gun.
Incident Location
Others Who Wore This Badge
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