Police Officer

James H. Kelly

Philadelphia Police Department — Philadelphia, PA
Accident
End of Watch May 15, 1892
Age 68
Tour of Duty 34 yrs
The Vigil Panel 11 ›
Gender Male

Incident

Police Officer James Kelly was struck and killed by a Pennsylvania Railroad train at the Almhouse Crossing, near South Street.

He and another officer were in the area as a result of citizen complaints about a large group of boys who would play baseball and harass citizens on Sundays. As he and the other officer crossed the tracks to speak to the boys he was struck by Philadelphia, Wilmington and Baltimore Railroad engine.

Officer Kelly had served with the Philadelphia Police Department for 34 years and was assigned to the 21st District. He was scheduled to retire in one month.

Survivors

He was survived by his wife and several adult children.

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

134 years is a long time for a name to go unread. Not today.
Police Officer Kelly gave the Philadelphia Police Department 34 years.
Thank you for your service to the Philadelphia community. Gone but never to be forgotten.

— 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 May 15, 1892
Tour of Duty 34 yrs
Age 68
Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Accident

The Sacrifice · Accident

James is one of 8,275 officers lost to accidents in the United States, 30% of the 27,551 remembered there.

34,117 officers are remembered on this memorial. Each number below is one of them.

  1. See the roll
  2. See the roll
Compare against
I

Time

In 1892, 7 officers in the United States were lost to accidents, the 139th heaviest of 174 years on record. The heaviest was 1929, with 118.

Every year on record · United States
II

Who

James was 68. Of the 7,718 lost to accidents in the United States whose age is recorded, half were between 29 and 46; the middle age was 36. James had served 34 years; the middle length of service was 6 years.

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

When

May holds 8.6% of these deaths in the United States; August holds the most, 9.5%. Sundays: 14%.

By month
By day of the week
IV

How

Accident deaths account for 30% of all 27,551 deaths in the United States, the 2nd most common cause.

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 H. Kelly

Philadelphia Police Department · End of Watch May 15, 1892

Where the Name Is Cut

National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial · Panel 6-W

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