Charles Thomas Knox, Jr.

Philadelphia Police Department — Philadelphia, PA

Felonious

End of Watch August 30, 1992

Age 31

Tour of Duty 2 yrs 3 mo

Badge 2540

The Vigil Panel 138 ›

Gender Male

Incident Service The Sacrifice Department 377

Incident

Police Officer Charlie Knox was shot and killed at 8:30 p.m. during a robbery in progress at a Roy Roger's restaurant at 1401 Snyder Avenue. When Officer Knox entered the restaurant, he saw a suspect holding a gun to the manager's head. He ordered the suspect to drop his weapon, but instead, the suspect lunged at him. During the ensuing struggle, another suspect exited the manager's office behind Officer Knox, stuck a handgun underneath his vest, and fired one round, knocking Officer Knox to the ground. As Officer Knox lay face up, the suspect then shot him again in the cheek, killing him. Both suspects were apprehended and confessed to murdering Officer Knox. They were both sentenced to life in prison. Officer Knox had served with the Philadelphia Police Department for more than two years. On Dec. 17, 1998, Officer Knox's 16-year-old son was killed in a vehicle crash. Charles Knox Jr. was a regular visitor of the Officer Down Memorial Page.

In Our Keeping

Permanent identifier: BO-US-PA-C965045E
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 never knew you. I am standing here anyway.
Police Officer Knox gave the Philadelphia Police Department 2 years.
Thank you for your service to the Philadelphia community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Police Officer Knox.

— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993

Agency

Department Philadelphia Police Department

Location Philadelphia, PA

Platform Identity ppd.philadelphia.pa.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch August 30, 1992

Tour of Duty 2 yrs 3 mo

Age 31

Badge Number 2540

Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious

Weapon Handgun; .38 caliber

Offender Sentenced to life

Police Officer Charles Thomas Knox, 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.

Philadelphia Police Department

162

of 378 officers

42.9% Felonious

PA — Statewide

597

of 1,261 officers

47.3% Felonious

Nationwide

17,623

of 32,508 officers

54.2% Felonious