Roll of Honor
Ernest Wilson Davis, Jr.
Incident
Police Officer Ernest Davis was shot and killed after responding to a call for a man with a gun at a restaurant at 3707 North Broad Street at approximately 3:35 am. He located the suspect in a van that was parked nearby. As he approached the van one of its occupants opened fire, mortally wounding him. He was able to return fire as the van fled the scene but did not strike the man. A detective who happened to be in the area arrested the subjects after discovering the van stopped nearby. The man who shot Officer Davis was convicted of murder and sentenced to death. He died of natural causes while awaiting his execution on July 24th, 2010. Officer Davis was a U.S Air Force veteran and had served with the Philadelphia Police Department for four years.
Survivors
He was survived by his wife, 5-year-old son, and three siblings.
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
BO-US-PA-7F88337E- 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 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 Davis gave the Philadelphia Police Department 4 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
Service Record
Incident Details
Military Service
Ernest Wilson Davis, Jr. served in the United States military before joining law enforcement. Full service record available on salute.nw.
Police Officer Ernest Wilson Davis, Jr. 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. Ernest Wilson Davis, Jr.'s cause is highlighted.
How Ernest Wilson Davis, Jr. Compares
Offender Outcome
Died in prison
When Felonious Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. Ernest Wilson Davis, Jr. is highlighted in Jul.
Weapons Used Against Officers
Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. Ernest Wilson Davis, Jr. was killed by gun; unknown type.
Incident Location
Others Who Wore This Badge
377 officers from Philadelphia Police Department are honored on badge.nw. Showing the 16 most recent.
