Roll of Honor
Incident
Police Officer Maurice Handloff was shot and killed shortly after midnight while attempting to arrest a robbery suspect who was holding up a civilian in their vehicle at a stop light on the 59th Street Bridge near Lancaster Avenue.
Officer Handloff and his partner had been dispatched to the area to search for three suspicious individuals. Once in the area, Officer Handloff and his partner were then alerted by a civilian that a hold up was in progress on the bridge. As they arrived on scene Officer Handloff`s partner, who was driving, managed to grab the holdup subject's left arm while Officer Handloff attempted to grab the other arm. The suspect fired his handgun through the pocket of his coat, striking Officer Handloff in his groin. He was rushed to Misericordia Hospital where he died shortly after midnight.
The suspect, who had been on parole at the time of the incident for embezzlement, was arrested at the scene. In November 1937 he was found guilty by a jury in 12 minutes of first-degree murder. He was sentenced to death on March 28th, 1938, in the electric chair.
Police Officer Handloff served with the Philadelphia Police Department for 12 years.
Survivors
He was survived by his brother.
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
BO-US-PA-3A62C912- Stewardship
- Maintained by NeuraWeb Global Inc.
- 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 never knew you. I am standing here anyway.
Police Officer Handloff gave the Philadelphia Police Department 12 years.
Thank you for your service to the Philadelphia community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Police Officer Handloff.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
Police Officer Maurice Handloff 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%.
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. Maurice Handloff's cause is highlighted.
How Maurice Handloff Compares
Offender Outcome
Executed
When Felonious Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. Maurice Handloff is highlighted in Sep.
Weapons Used Against Officers
Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. Maurice Handloff was killed by handgun.
Incident Location
Others Who Wore This Badge
377 officers from Philadelphia Police Department are honored on badge.nw. Showing the 16 most recent.
