Ivan J. Walker
Agency patch
Police Officer

Ivan J. Walker

Felonious
End of Watch September 11, 1980
Age 54
Tour of Duty 15 yrs
The Vigil Panel 123 ›
Gender Male

Incident

Police Officer Ivan Walker was shot and killed with his own service revolver while attempting to arrest a man for disorderly conduct at the authority's Plymouth Hall at 2201 West Venango Street. The man began to struggle with Officer Walker inside the building's lobby. The struggle moved outside where the man was able to disarm Officer Walker, and then shot him with another weapon. A warrant officer with the Philadelphia Common Please Court happened to be across the street shot the suspect as he fled. He was later taken into custody and charged with murder, robbery, and weapons offenses after he sought treatment for the gunshot wound. The 39-year-old suspect was convicted of murder and sentenced to life. Officer Walker had served with the Philadelphia Housing Authority Police Department for 15 years.

Survivors

He was survived by his wife and three children.

In Our Keeping

Permanent identifier
BO-US-PA-62E4BE72
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 Walker gave the Philadelphia Housing Authority Police Department 15 years.
Thank you for your service to the Philadelphia community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Police Officer Walker.

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

Agency

Location Philadelphia, PA
Platform Identity phapd.philadelphia.pa.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch September 11, 1980
Tour of Duty 15 yrs
Age 54
Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious
Weapon Handgun
Offender Sentenced to life

Police Officer Ivan J. Walker 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 Housing Authority Police Department, 3 of 3 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 100% of this agency's fallen.

Philadelphia Housing Authority Police Department
3
of 3 officers
100% 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. Ivan J. Walker'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 Ivan J. Walker Compares

Age at End of Watch
54
This officer
Avg for Felonious: 39.0 years
Years of Service
15
This officer
Avg for Felonious: 8.5 years

Offender Outcome

Sentenced to life

When Felonious Deaths Occur

Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. Ivan J. Walker is highlighted in Sep.

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. Ivan J. Walker was killed by handgun.

Gun; Unknown type
5,083
Handgun
2,077
Shotgun
922
Officer's handgun
909
Automobile; Alcohol involved
530
Rifle
518

Incident Location

Others Who Wore This Badge

2 officers from Philadelphia Housing Authority Police Department are honored on badge.nw.