Roll of Honor
Dennis Joseph McNamara
Incident
Police Officer Dennis McNamara was shot and killed while investigating suspicious vehicle in front of a home on Perry Avenue.
As he talked into his shoulder mounted microphone, a motorcycle gang member ran out of the home. The suspect pulled out a handgun and shot Officer McNamara in the side of the head. The suspect then fled the scene in a vehicle.
Officer McNamara was transported to a local hospital where he succumbed to his wounds two hours later.
The suspect was arrested in the early morning hours following a car chase in Bucks County, Pennsylvania. The suspect was seriously injured when he crashed his vehicle. The 52-year-old suspect plead guilty to Officer McNamara's murder and was sentenced to life. He died in prison on July 8, 2015.
Officer McNamara was a U.S. Army Reserve veteran and had served with the Upper Darby Township Police Department for eight years.
Survivors
He is survived by his wife and two children.
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
BO-US-PA-B482737C- 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 McNamara gave the Upper Darby Township Police Department 8 years.
Thank you for your service to the Upper Darby community. Thank you 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
Dennis Joseph McNamara served in the United States military before joining law enforcement. Full service record available on salute.nw.
Police Officer Dennis Joseph McNamara 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%.
National Cause Distribution
How Felonious compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. Dennis Joseph McNamara's cause is highlighted.
How Dennis Joseph McNamara Compares
Offender Outcome
Died in prison
When Felonious Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. Dennis Joseph McNamara is highlighted in Jan.
Weapons Used Against Officers
Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. Dennis Joseph McNamara was killed by handgun; .32 caliber.