David M. Simpson
Agency patch
Police Officer

David M. Simpson

Philadelphia Police Department — Philadelphia, PA
Felonious
End of Watch September 21, 1912
Age 26
Tour of Duty 3 yrs 1 mo
Badge 136
Gender Male

Incident

Police Officer David Simpson was stabbed to death by a man running amuck with a knife at the intersection of 19th Street and Federal Street. While off duty, Policeman Simpson, grabbed the man when the subject stabbed him. The suspect was arrested by other officers and identified by Officer Simpson before he succumbed to his wound. During his trial, the suspect said he thought Officer Simpson was one of a group of men who attacked him minutes earlier. He was acquitted. Police Officer Simpson served with the Philadelphia Police Department for over three years. He was survived by his wife, parents, and siblings. His father was also a Philadelphia Police Officer.

Survivors

He was survived by his wife, parents, and siblings.

In Our Keeping

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Stewardship
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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 Simpson gave the Philadelphia Police Department 3 years.
Thank you for your service to the Philadelphia community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Police Officer Simpson.

— 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 September 21, 1912
Tour of Duty 3 yrs 1 mo
Age 26
Badge Number 136
Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious
Weapon Edged weapon

The Sacrifice · Felonious

David 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 1912, 133 officers in the United States were killed feloniously, the 33rd heaviest of 213 years on record. The heaviest was 1921, with 248.

Every year on record · United States
II

Who

David 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. David had served 3.1 years; the middle length of service was 6 years.

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

When

September holds 9.1% of these deaths in the United States; December holds the most, 9.4%. Saturdays: 16.3%.

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 edged weapon, in 2.2% of these deaths.

Every cause
Weapons recorded
V

His people

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

Across the years
VI

Where

Police Officer David M. Simpson

Philadelphia Police Department · End of Watch September 21, 1912

Where the Name Is Cut

National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial · Panel 3-W

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