Wallace Blakleigh "Chappie" Chapman
Agency patch
Police Officer

Wallace Blakleigh "Chappie" Chapman

Philadelphia Police Department — Philadelphia, PA
Felonious Veteran
End of Watch June 13, 1948
Age 40
Tour of Duty 3 yrs
Badge 3934
The Vigil Panel 84 ›
Gender Male

Incident

Officer Chapman was shot to death while arresting a man who two women said had been insulting him. While at a call box at 8th and Poplar streets, the suspect knocked Officer Chapman down, took his service revolver, and shot him repeatedly. The 21-year-old suspect was arrested, convicted of murder, and sentenced to life in prison. Officer Chapman was a U.S Army veteran of WWII and had served with the Philadelphia Police Department for three years.

Survivors

He is survived by his wife and two daughters.

In Our Keeping

Permanent identifier
BO-US-PA-7507E356
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.

Are you family? This record can be claimed and maintained by those who knew Wallace. Claim this record.

This page is permanent and free. No fee to view it, no advertising, no tracking, and no account required. It will not be taken down.

Tributes

I served 1985 to 1993. You served too, before the badge - different uniform, same idea. You go where you are sent and you do not get to pick the call.
Police Officer Chapman gave the Philadelphia Police Department 3 years.
Thank you for your service to the Philadelphia community, and for your service before it. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, brother.

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

Agency

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

Service Record

End of Watch June 13, 1948
Tour of Duty 3 yrs
Age 40
Badge Number 3934
Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious
Weapon Officer's handgun
Offender Convicted of murder

Military Service

Wallace Blakleigh "Chappie" Chapman served in the United States military before joining law enforcement. Full service record available on salute.nw.

Police Officer Wallace Blakleigh "Chappie" Chapman 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.

Philadelphia Police Department
162
of 378 officers
42.9% 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. Wallace Blakleigh "Chappie" Chapman'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 Wallace Blakleigh "Chappie" Chapman Compares

Age at End of Watch
40
This officer
Avg for Felonious: 39.0 years
Years of Service
3
This officer
Avg for Felonious: 8.5 years

Offender Outcome

Convicted of murder

When Felonious Deaths Occur

Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. Wallace Blakleigh "Chappie" Chapman is highlighted in Jun.

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. Wallace Blakleigh "Chappie" Chapman was killed by officer's handgun.

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

Incident Location