Roll of Honor
Charles J. Westdhal, Jr.
Incident
Location: Pennsylvania Incident Date: Thursday, December 7, 1939 Weapon: Officer's handgun Offender: Executed in 1940
Detective Charles Westdhal succumbed to gunshot wounds sustained four days earlier when he was shot inside the Fairmount Park Guard headquarters at the intersection of 44th Street and Parkside Avenue.
He had arrested a man whom he caught stealing coal from a railroad car on the tracks along that ran along through park at Black Road and West River Drive. While the man was in custody in the Park Guard headquarters he suddenly lunged at one of the park guards and grabbed his service revolver from its holster. He shot the guard in the abdomen as the two struggled over the gun.
Detective Westdhal and the subject then exchanged shot and both were wounded. The man was taken into custody by the park guard duty sergeant. Detective Westdhal was transported to Presbyterian Hospital where he died four days later.
The subject plead guilty to murder and was sentenced to death. He was executed in the electric chair on July 15th, 1940.
Detective Westdhal was survived by his wife and parents. His father was a police officer with the Philadelphia Police Department.
Survivors
Detective Westdhal was survived by his wife and parents.
In Our Keeping
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BO-US-RR-DE965396- Stewardship
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- 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.
Detective Westdhal served with the Pennsylvania Railroad Police Department.
Thank you for your service to the Philadelphpia community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Detective Westdhal.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
Detective Charles J. Westdhal, 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 Pennsylvania Railroad Police Department, 13 of 36 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 36.1% of this agency's fallen.
National Cause Distribution
How Felonious compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. Charles J. Westdhal, Jr.'s cause is highlighted.
How Charles J. Westdhal, Jr. Compares
Offender Outcome
Executed in 1940
When Felonious Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. Charles J. Westdhal, Jr. is highlighted in Dec.
Weapons Used Against Officers
Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. Charles J. Westdhal, Jr. was killed by officer's handgun.
Incident Location
Others Who Wore This Badge
35 officers from Pennsylvania Railroad Police Department are honored on badge.nw. Showing the 16 most recent.
