Gerard W. Traynor
Agency patch
Detective

Gerard W. Traynor

Philadelphia Police Department — Philadelphia, PA
Cardiac
End of Watch June 21, 1987
Age 41
Tour of Duty 16 yrs
The Vigil Panel 132 ›
Gender Male

Incident

Detective Gerard Traynor suffered a fatal heart attack shortly after running to help another officer who was struggling with a prisoner who was attempting to escape.

Detective Traynor was on duty in the Northwest Detective Division at 5960 N Broad Street when he heard another detective call for help. He ran to the detective's aid and found an escaping prisoner attacking the detective. Detective Traynor pulled the attacker off the other detective and fought with him as they fell to the floor. With the aid of other detectives, they were able to regain control of the prisoner. The following morning Detective Traynor suffered a heart attack and was pronounced dead at 6:25 a.m.

Officer Traynor had served with the Philadelphia Police Department for 16 years.

Survivors

He was survived by his wife, son, and daughter.

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.
Detective Traynor gave the Philadelphia Police Department 16 years.
Thank you for your service to the Philadelphia community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Detective Traynor.

— 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 June 21, 1987
Tour of Duty 16 yrs
Age 41
Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Cardiac
Cause Detail Heart attack
Weapon Person

The Sacrifice · Cardiac

Gerard is one of 1,307 officers lost to cardiac events in the United States, 4.7% 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 1987, 15 officers in the United States were lost to cardiac events, the 34th heaviest of 139 years on record. The heaviest was 2014, with 24.

Every year on record · United States
II

Who

Gerard was 41. Of the 1,249 lost to cardiac events in the United States whose age is recorded, half were between 43 and 55; the middle age was 48. Gerard had served 16 years; the middle length of service was 15 years.

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

When

June holds 7.2% of these deaths in the United States; January holds the most, 9.6%. Sundays: 13.9%.

By month
By day of the week
IV

How

Cardiac deaths account for 4.7% of all 27,551 deaths in the United States, the 4th most common cause. The weapon recorded was person, in 16.1% of these deaths.

Every cause
Weapons recorded
V

His people

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

Across the years
VI

Where

Detective Gerard W. Traynor

Philadelphia Police Department · End of Watch June 21, 1987

Where the Name Is Cut

National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial · Panel 45-W

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