Roll of Honor
Incident
Police Officer John Chambers succumb to gunshot wound two days earlier while serving a warrant on a subject at 2531 East Dauphin Street. When Officer Chambers entered the home the man ran upstairs and retrieved a Navy Colt revolver. As Policeman Chambers stepped onto the bottom of the stairs the man emerged at the top and opened fire, striking him in the chest. Another officer was able to pull Officer Chambers out of the home. He was taken to Episcopal Hospital where he was able to identify his assailant and give a statement of what happened before he died. The suspect, a well known Kensington tough, who had terrorized his neighborhood for several years, was convicted of second degree murder and sentenced to 8 years on January 30, 1895. He was refused a pardon on January 19, 1898. Officer Chambers served with the Philadelphia Police Department for more than 22 years and was assigned to the 26th District.
Survivors
He was survived by his wife and five children.
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
BO-US-PA-402C0F4F- 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
132 years is a long time for a name to go unread. Not today.
Police Officer Chambers gave the Philadelphia Police Department 22 years.
Thank you for your service to the Philadelphia community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
Police Officer John Chambers 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. John Chambers's cause is highlighted.
How John Chambers Compares
Offender Outcome
Sentenced to 8 years
When Felonious Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. John Chambers is highlighted in Sep.
Weapons Used Against Officers
Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. John Chambers was killed by handgun; revolver.
Incident Location
Others Who Wore This Badge
377 officers from Philadelphia Police Department are honored on badge.nw. Showing the 16 most recent.
