Roll of Honor
Incident
Watchman John Beck succumbed to a gunshot wound sustained two weeks earlier while attempting to arrest a rape suspect at a hotel on Callowhill Street near the city's Fairmount neighborhood.
A man notified Watchman Beck and other officers that his daughter had been raped by a man who was at a hotel on Callowhill Street. Once inside the hotel, as officers attempted to arrest the suspect, several of the suspect's friends interfered in the arrest, causing a struggle. The father, who had accompanied the officers to identify the suspect, grabbed his pistol in an attempt to scare away anyone else from interfering. The gun accidentally discharged, striking the father in the hand and Watchman Beck in his groin. Watchman Beck was taken to his home, where he succumbed to his gunshot wound almost two weeks later.
The suspect escaped with help from his friends but was arrested on July 21, 1844. For interference during the attempted arrest, one of the suspect's friends was charged on June 4, 1844, for inciting a riot. A second friend of the suspect was charged on August 18 with conspiracy to commit the sexual assault and was also charged with interference during the suspect's arrest attempt. It is unknown if any of the three men were convicted.
Watchman Beck was survived by his wife and two children. His widow received $300 from the city council to help support her and her children.
Survivors
Watchman Beck was survived by his wife and two children.
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
BO-US-PA-83385A32- 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
182 years is a long time for a name to go unread. Not today.
Watchman Beck served with the Philadelphia Night Watch.
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
Watchman John Beck 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 Night Watch, 2 of 3 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 66.7% of this agency's fallen.
National Cause Distribution
How Felonious compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. John Beck's cause is highlighted.
How John Beck Compares
When Felonious Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. John Beck is highlighted in Jun.
Weapons Used Against Officers
Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths.
Incident Location
Others Who Wore This Badge
2 officers from Philadelphia Night Watch are honored on badge.nw.
