Joseph Z. Nutter
Agency patch
Police Officer

Joseph Z. Nutter

Philadelphia Police Department — Philadelphia, PA
Accident
End of Watch March 4, 1896
Age 40
Tour of Duty 5 yrs
The Vigil Panel 13 ›
Gender Male

Incident

Police Officer Joseph Nutter died as the result of exposure to fire while on duty.

Officer Nutter had initially been exposed to fire in downtown Philadelphia approximately one month prior. Soon after the fire, although ill, Officer Nutter had insisted on remaining on duty until his shift was over. He had developed a severe cold which turned into pneumonia. While still ill, Officer Nutter had worked 48-straight hours from Friday, February 28th, 1896, until Sunday, March 1st, 1896. Shortly after being relieved of duty Officer Nutter suffered a relapse and passed away three days later.

Police Officer Nutter served with the Philadelphia Police Department for five years and was survived by his wife and son.

Survivors

Police Officer Nutter served with the Philadelphia Police Department for five years and was survived by his wife and son.

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

130 years is a long time for a name to go unread. Not today.
Police Officer Nutter gave the Philadelphia Police Department 5 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 March 4, 1896
Tour of Duty 5 yrs
Age 40
Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Accident
Cause Detail Fire

The Sacrifice · Accident

Joseph is one of 8,275 officers lost to accidents in the United States, 30% 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 1896, 17 officers in the United States were lost to accidents, the 124th heaviest of 174 years on record. The heaviest was 1929, with 118.

Every year on record · United States
II

Who

Joseph was 40. 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. Joseph had served 5 years; the middle length of service was 6 years.

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

When

March holds 7.4% of these deaths in the United States; August holds the most, 9.5%. Wednesdays: 14.5%.

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, Joseph among them.

Across the years
VI

Where

Police Officer Joseph Z. Nutter

Philadelphia Police Department · End of Watch March 4, 1896

Where the Name Is Cut

National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial · Panel 58-E

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