Roll of Honor
Alvin Clayton Palmer
Incident
Police Officer Alvin Palmer succumbed to a gunshot wound sustained the previous day while chasing a robbery suspect in the area of Fifth Street and Westmoreland Street. The owner of a restaurant that had just been robbed chased the suspects and then flagged down Officer Palmer and his partner when he enountered them. The officers located the suspect and took one female into custody before her male accomplices ran from the scene. Officer Palmer was shot in the face as he chased one of the men. The subject who shot him was sentenced to life in prison. Officer Palmer was a United States Marine Corps veteran and had served with the Philadelphia Housing Authority Police Department for 20 months.
Survivors
He is survived by his wife, son, and two daughters.
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
BO-US-PA-B9AF88C2- 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 Palmer gave the Philadelphia Housing Authority Police Department 1 year.
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
Alvin Clayton Palmer served in the Marine Corps (1991â1991) before joining law enforcement.
Police Officer Alvin Clayton Palmer 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 Housing Authority Police Department, 3 of 3 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 100% of this agency's fallen.
National Cause Distribution
How Felonious compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. Alvin Clayton Palmer's cause is highlighted.
How Alvin Clayton Palmer Compares
Offender Outcome
Sentenced to life
When Felonious Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. Alvin Clayton Palmer is highlighted in Apr.
Weapons Used Against Officers
Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. Alvin Clayton Palmer was killed by handgun.
Incident Location
Others Who Wore This Badge
2 officers from Philadelphia Housing Authority Police Department are honored on badge.nw.
