Roll of Honor
Incident
Captain James Walker died as the result of complications after contracting COVID-19 during a presumed exposure while on duty.
Captain Walker had served with the Philadelphia Police Department for 32 years and was assigned to the Traffic Division. He had planned to retire in November 2020.
He was posthumously promoted to the rank of Captain.
Captain Walker had served with the Philadelphia Police Department for 32 years and was assigned to the Traffic Division. He had planned to retire in November 2020.
COVID-19 and Law Enforcement
Captain James Walker, Jr. died on April 5, 2020 of COVID-19 contracted in the line of duty. He was 59.
He is one of 884 officers honored here, and one of 8 at Philadelphia Police Department.
Beginning in early 2020, law enforcement officers across the country contracted COVID-19 in the course of their duties. While much of the nation sheltered at home, they kept answering calls, making arrests, transporting prisoners, and working face to face with the public. There was no distance to be had from the job.
Corrections officers were hit hardest. Confined facilities and large populations meant constant, close, unavoidable exposure.
Survivors
He is survived by his wife and two daughters.
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
BO-US-PA-9A431849- 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
The country locked its doors. You kept working.
Captain Walker gave the Philadelphia Police Department 32 years.
Thank you for your service to the Philadelphia community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Captain Walker.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
Captain James Walker, Jr. is one of 2,974 officers lost to illness connected to their service across the full record of this memorial — 9.1% of all 32,508 officers honored here.
In PA, 121 of 1,261 officers were lost to illness connected to their service — 9.6% of this state's fallen. That is 0.5 percentage points above the national rate of 9.1%.
At Philadelphia Police Department, 66 of 378 officers on record were lost to illness connected to their service — 17.5% of this agency's fallen.
National Cause Distribution
How Illness compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. James Walker, Jr.'s cause is highlighted.
How James Walker, Jr. Compares
When Illness Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Illness deaths across the full memorial record. James Walker, Jr. is highlighted in Apr.
Incident Location
Others Who Wore This Badge
377 officers from Philadelphia Police Department are honored on badge.nw. Showing the 16 most recent.
