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Auxiliary Police Officer

Abraham Laster

Philadelphia Police Department — Philadelphia, PA
Accident
United States flag Pennsylvania flag
End of Watch April 2, 1955
Age 46
The Vigil Panel 91 ›
Gender Male
Incident Service The Sacrifice Memorials 1 Department 378

Incident

Auxiliary Police Officer Abraham Laster was killed when the police van he was driving was struck by another vehicle at the intersection of 54th Street and Vine Street.

He and another auxiliary police officer had picked up 10 relief firefighters at Engine 65 Fire Station to take them to the scene of a four-alarm church fire. While en route to the scene the van they were driving was struck by a vehicle and rolled over onto its roof. Auxiliary Police Officer Laster was taken to Misericordia Hospital where he was pronounced dead.

The 10 firefighters and one other auxiliary police officer were taken to the Philadelphia General Hospital where they were treated and later released.

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August 2, 2026
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August 2, 2026

Honored here by 1 tribute.

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Tributes

I never knew you. I am standing here anyway.
Auxiliary Police Officer Laster served with the Philadelphia Police Department.
Thank you for your service to the Philadelphia community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Auxiliary Police Officer Laster.

— 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 April 2, 1955
Age 46
Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Accident

The Sacrifice · Accident

Abraham 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.

  3. See the roll
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Compare against
I

Time

In 1955, 67 officers in the United States were lost to accidents, the 59th heaviest of 174 years on record. The heaviest was 1929, with 118.

Every year on record · United States
II

Who

Abraham was 46. 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.

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

When

April holds 7% of these deaths in the United States; August holds the most, 9.5%. Saturdays: 14.9%.

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, Abraham among them.

Across the years
VI

Where

Auxiliary Police Officer Abraham Laster

Philadelphia Police Department · End of Watch April 2, 1955

Where the Name Is Cut

National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial · Panel 27-E

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