Robert Porter
Agency patch
Police Officer

Robert Porter

Philadelphia Police Department — Philadelphia, PA
Felonious
End of Watch January 19, 1996
Age 28
Tour of Duty 7 yrs
Badge 6478
The Vigil Panel 142 ›
Gender Male

Incident

Police Officer Petey Porter was shot and killed after an argument outside a bar. Officer Porter and another officer were both off duty and were recognized as police officers by three men. The other officer had testified against one of the suspects earlier in the day. The two officers got into a vehicle and started to drive away when the suspects pulled up next to them and shot Officer Porter in the head, killing him. He was pronounced dead on arrival at the Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania. All three suspects were convicted of murder and sentenced to life. It is believed that the other officer had been the intended target because he had shot and arrested one of the suspects in 1995. Officer Porter had served with the Philadelphia Police Department for seven years and served as an undercover narcotics officer.

Survivors

He was survived by his stepson, two siblings, and parents.

In Our Keeping

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Stewardship
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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 Porter gave the Philadelphia Police Department 7 years.
Thank you for your service to the Philadelphia community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Police Officer Porter.

— 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 January 19, 1996
Tour of Duty 7 yrs
Age 28
Badge Number 6478
Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious
Weapon Handgun

The Sacrifice · Felonious

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

33,917 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 1996, 79 officers in the United States were killed feloniously, the 86th heaviest of 213 years on record. The heaviest was 1921, with 248.

Every year on record · United States
II

Who

Robert was 28. 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. Robert had served 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

January holds 8% of these deaths in the United States; December holds the most, 9.4%. Fridays: 14.3%.

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 handgun, in 23.4% of these deaths.

Every cause
Weapons recorded
V

His people

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

Across the years
VI

Where

Police Officer Robert Porter

Philadelphia Police Department · End of Watch January 19, 1996

Where the Name Is Cut

National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial · Panel 27-E

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