Policeman

Charles A. Fry

Philadelphia Police Department — Philadelphia, PA
Felonious
End of Watch February 21, 1928
Age 26
Tour of Duty 1 yrs
Gender Male

Incident

Policeman Charles Fry died of wounds suffered when he was shot New Year’s night in a gun battle with three robbers in a grocery store on Passyunk Avenue, near Wharton Street. He and his partner were attracted to the sound of breaking glass when the robbers inside the store and the two policemen noticed each other at the same time. All fired several shots as the three escaped in an automobile. Policeman Fry died in a hospital the next day. Policeman Fry had served with the Philadelphia Police Department for less than a year.

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August 2, 2026
Last updated
August 2, 2026

Honored here by 1 tribute.

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Tributes

You barely got started.
Policeman Fry gave the Philadelphia Police Department 1 year.
Thank you for your service to the Philadelphia community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Policeman Fry.

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

Agency

Type Police Department
Location Philadelphia, Philadelphia County, PA
Platform Identity ppd.philadelphia.pa.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch February 21, 1928
Tour of Duty 1 yrs
Age 26
Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious
Weapon Gun

The Sacrifice · Felonious

Charles is one of 15,742 officers killed feloniously in the United States, 57.1% of the 27,551 remembered there.

34,102 officers are remembered on this memorial. Each number below is one of them.

  1. See the roll
  2. See the roll
Compare against
I

Time

In 1928, 201 officers in the United States were killed feloniously, the 13th heaviest of 213 years on record. The heaviest was 1921, with 248.

Every year on record · United States
II

Who

Charles was 26. Of the 14,219 killed feloniously in the United States whose age is recorded, half were between 31 and 47; the middle age was 38. Charles had served 1 year; the middle length of service was 6 years.

Age at death
Where he stood among them
Age by years of service
III

When

February holds 7.4% of these deaths in the United States; December holds the most, 9.4%. Tuesdays: 13.4%.

By month
By day of the week
IV

How

Felonious deaths account for 57.1% of all 27,551 deaths in the United States, the most common cause. The weapon recorded was gun, in 22.8% of these deaths.

Every cause
Weapons recorded
V

His people

Philadelphia Police Department has at least 120 officers remembered here, Charles among them.

Across the years
VI

Where

Policeman Charles A. Fry

Philadelphia Police Department · End of Watch February 21, 1928

Where the Name Is Cut

National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial · Panel 10-E

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