James T. Morrow
Agency patch
Police Officer

James T. Morrow

Philadelphia Police Department — Philadelphia, PA
Felonious
End of Watch November 23, 1936
Age 35
Tour of Duty 5 yrs 8 mo
Gender Male

Incident

Officer Morrow was shot and killed in a gully next to a railroad track by a purse snatcher he and his partner were chasing. The suspect shot him in the head and chest five times. Six months later the 19-year-old suspect was apprehended. The suspect confessed to seven earlier robberies and the murder of another man two months earlier after he robbed him of 25 cents. He was convicted of both murders and sentenced to death. His sentence was later commuted to life. The suspect's attorney maintained his client was innocent and that he had a mental problem that caused him to confess to the crimes. On February 24, 1939, a man picked up for questioning about a murder, told officials that he was with a man who committed both murders. That man had been shot and killed three weeks earlier by Philadelphia detectives when they attempted to arrest him for six recent murders. The original suspect was released and the killer's companion was charged with the murders. He was convicted of Officer Morrow's murder and sentenced to life. In 1951 he convinced the court that he was coerced into giving his confession and was awarded a new trial. He was acquitted on May 1, 1951, and released.

In Our Keeping

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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 Morrow gave the Philadelphia Police Department 5 years.
Thank you for your service to the Philadelphia community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Police Officer Morrow.

— 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 November 23, 1936
Tour of Duty 5 yrs 8 mo
Age 35
Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious
Weapon Handgun

The Sacrifice · Felonious

James 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
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Compare against
I

Time

In 1936, 136 officers in the United States were killed feloniously, the 31st heaviest of 213 years on record. The heaviest was 1921, with 248.

Every year on record · United States
II

Who

James was 35. 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. James had served 5.7 years; the middle length of service was 6 years.

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

When

November holds 8.1% of these deaths in the United States; December holds the most, 9.4%. Mondays: 13.8%.

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 handgun, in 23.4% of these deaths.

Every cause
Weapons recorded
V

His people

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

Across the years
VI

Where

Police Officer James T. Morrow

Philadelphia Police Department · End of Watch November 23, 1936

Where the Name Is Cut

National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial · Panel 27-W

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