Charles F. Gay

Philadelphia Police Department — Philadelphia, PA

Felonious

End of Watch December 25, 1925

Age 32

Tour of Duty 7 yrs

The Vigil Panel 50 ›

Gender Male

Incident Service The Sacrifice Department 377

Incident

Policeman Charles Gay succumbed to gunshot wounds sustained the previous day while attempting to make an arrest of a man wanted for an Alabama murder at Eighth Street and Vine Street. The suspect was later located at Central Prison in Raleigh, North Carolina, where he had served one month of a 10 year sentence for robbery. He was returned to Philadelphia, convicted of first degree murder, and executed in the electric chair on September 26th, 1927. Policeman Gay had served with the Philadelphia Police Department for seven years.

In Our Keeping

Permanent identifier: BO-US-PA-DB7DE8CC
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.

Are you family? This record can be claimed and maintained by those who knew Charles. Claim this record.

This page is permanent and free. No fee to view it, no advertising, no tracking, and no account required. It will not be taken down.

Tributes

I never knew you. I am standing here anyway.
Policeman Gay gave the Philadelphia Police Department 7 years.
Thank you for your service to the Philadelphia community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Policeman Gay.

— 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 December 25, 1925

Tour of Duty 7 yrs

Age 32

Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious

Weapon Gun; Unknown type

Offender Executed in 1927

Policeman Charles F. Gay 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