August E. Labenz

Philadelphia Police Department — Philadelphia, PA

Felonious

End of Watch September 15, 1932

Age 30

Tour of Duty 3 yrs

The Vigil Panel 64 ›

Gender Male

Incident Service The Sacrifice Memorials 1 Department 378

Incident

Police Officer August Labenz succumbed to a gunshot wound sustained one week earlier while attempting to stop a man who began shooting into a crowd of spectators at the intersection of 9th Street and Market Street.

The spectators were listening to a street preacher when the man opened fire without warning. Officer Labenz, who was patrolling nearby, was shot as he ran toward the subject. Two citizens were also shot.

A group of bystanders began chasing the subject, who then committed suicide.

Officer Labenz had served with the Philadelphia Police Department for three years.

Survivors

He was survived by his wife.

In Our Keeping

Permanent identifier: NW-T70D-60EP-C earlier record number BO-US-PA-471EAC0D
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 Labenz 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 Labenz.

— 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 September 15, 1932

Tour of Duty 3 yrs

Age 30

Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious

Cause Detail Gunfire

Weapon Handgun

Police Officer August E. Labenz is one of 1 officers killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty across the full record of this memorial — 0% of all 97,776 officers honored here.

In PA, 598 of 1,262 officers were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 47.4% of this state's fallen. That is 47.4 percentage points above the national rate of 0%.

At Philadelphia Police Department, 163 of 379 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 43% of this agency's fallen.

Philadelphia Police Department

163

of 379 officers

43% Felonious

PA — Statewide

598

of 1,262 officers

47.4% Felonious

Nationwide

of 97,776 officers

0% Felonious