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Police Officer

Joseph V. Kelly

Philadelphia Police Department — Philadelphia, PA

Felonious

End of Watch February 21, 1971

Age 45

Tour of Duty 16 yrs

Badge 4937

The Vigil Panel 108 ›

Gender Male

Incident Media Service The Sacrifice Memorials 1 Department 378

Incident

Officer Joseph Kelly was shot and killed in an exchange of gunfire after he surprised a subject who was attempting to steal a vehicle in the 200 block of Paoli Avenue. The 25-year-old suspect was apprehended 17 hours later in a hidden spot within sight of the crime scene. The night before, he shot and wounded a 72-year-old man and his 78-year-old wife as they were entering their apartment in Germantown. He had been released from prison three days earlier after serving a six-year term for burglary. The suspect was convicted of second-degree murder and sentenced to 10 to 20 years. While in prison, the suspect and a second inmate were responsible for the stabbing murders of Warden Patrick Curran and Deputy Warden Robert Fromhold at Holmesburg Prison on May 31, 1973. Officer Kelly's murderer was sentenced to life in prison for the murders of Warden Curran and Deputy Warden Fromhold. The second 26-year-old suspect, also sentenced to life, was already serving a life sentence for the murder of Sergeant Frank R. Von Colln of the Fairmount Park Police on August 29, 1970. On October 30, 1981, after a failed escape attempt, Officer Kelly's killer and three fellow inmates took three guards, three kitchen workers, and 29 inmates hostage at Graterford Prison. After several hours of tense negotiations, the hostages were released, and the four surrendered. As of June 20, 2020, both were in prison. Officer Kelly had served with the Philadelphia Police Department for 16 years.

Survivors

He was survived by his wife and five daughters.

In Our Keeping

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Stewardship: Maintained by NeuraWeb Global Inc.
Added to badge.nw: August 2, 2026
Last updated: August 2, 2026

Honored here by 1 tribute.

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Tributes

I never knew you. I am standing here anyway.
Police Officer Kelly gave the Philadelphia Police Department 16 years.
Thank you for your service to the Philadelphia community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Police Officer Kelly.

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

Agency

Department Philadelphia Police Department

Type Police Department

Location Philadelphia, Philadelphia County, PA

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

Service Record

End of Watch February 21, 1971

Tour of Duty 16 yrs

Age 45

Badge Number 4937

Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious

Weapon Handgun

The Sacrifice · Felonious

Joseph is one of 15,743 officers killed feloniously in the United States, 57.1% of the 27,551 remembered there.

34,117 officers are remembered on this memorial. Each number below is one of them.

Compare against

Time

In 1971, 168 officers in the United States were killed feloniously, the 18th heaviest of 213 years on record. The heaviest was 1921, with 248.

Every year on record · United States

Who

Joseph was 45. Of the 14,220 killed feloniously in the United States whose age is recorded, half were between 31 and 47; the middle age was 38. Joseph had served 16 years; 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%. Sundays: 15.2%.

By month

By day of the week

How

Felonious deaths account for 57.1% of all 27,551 deaths in the United States, the most common cause. The weapon recorded was handgun, in 23.4% of these deaths.

Every cause

Weapons recorded