Roll of Honor

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Police Officer

James Kenneth Armstrong

Bensalem Township Police Department — Bensalem, PA

Felonious

End of Watch April 15, 1975

Age 28

Badge 32

The Vigil Panel 115 ›

Gender Male

Incident Service The Sacrifice Department 1

Incident

Officer Armstrong was shot and killed during a felony traffic stop of a suspect who had committed an armed robbery in Bristol Township. The suspect shot and killed Officer Armstrong and seriously wounded his canine partner during the stop. The 29-year-old suspect fled to Philadelphia where he was arrested three weeks later. He was convicted of murdering Officer Armstrong and sentenced to life in prison. In 1998 he was denied a new trial.

In Our Keeping

Permanent identifier: BO-US-PA-484D5521
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 Armstrong served with the Bensalem Township Police Department.
Thank you for your service to the Bensalem community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Police Officer Armstrong.

— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993

Agency

Department Bensalem Township Police Department

Location Bensalem, PA

Platform Identity benspd.bucks.pa.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch April 15, 1975

Age 28

Badge Number 32

Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious

Weapon Gun; Unknown type

Offender Sentenced to life

Police Officer James Kenneth Armstrong 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 Bensalem Township Police Department, 1 of 2 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 50% of this agency's fallen.

Bensalem Township Police Department

of 2 officers

50% Felonious

PA — Statewide

597

of 1,261 officers

47.3% Felonious

Nationwide

17,623

of 32,508 officers

54.2% Felonious

National Cause Distribution

How Felonious compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. James Kenneth Armstrong's cause is highlighted.

Felonious

17,623 (54.2%)

Accident

10,088 (31%)

Illness

2,974 (9.1%)

Cardiac

1,306 (4%)

Undetermined

260 (0.8%)

Suicide

256 (0.8%)

vehicular

1 (0%)

How James Kenneth Armstrong Compares

Age at End of Watch

This officer

Avg for Felonious: 39.0 years

Offender Outcome

Sentenced to life

When Felonious Deaths Occur

Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. James Kenneth Armstrong is highlighted in Apr.

Jan

1,392

Feb

1,295

Mar

1,373

Apr

1,517

May

1,505

Jun

1,443

Jul

1,587

Aug

1,516

Sep

1,553

Oct

1,371

Nov

1,447

Dec

1,624

Weapons Used Against Officers

Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. James Kenneth Armstrong was killed by gun; unknown type.

Gun; Unknown type

5,083

Handgun

2,077

Shotgun

922

Officer's handgun

909

Automobile; Alcohol involved

530

Rifle

518

Others Who Wore This Badge

1 officer from Bensalem Township Police Department are honored on badge.nw.