Joseph Edward Bell
Agency patch
Police Officer

Joseph Edward Bell

Philadelphia Police Department — Philadelphia, PA
Felonious
End of Watch December 23, 1926
Age 31
Tour of Duty 6 yrs
Badge 234
The Vigil Panel 52 ›
Gender Male

Incident

Police Officer Joseph Bell succumbed to gunshot wounds sustained 12 days earlier while questioning a suspicious subject at 21st Street and Lombard Street. Officer Bell had witnessed the man ringing doorbells in the neighborhood. While questioning the subject he shot Officer Bell in the abdomen. The suspect was convicted of his murder and was later executed.

Survivors

Officer Bell had served with the Philadelphia Police Department for six years and was survived by his wife, five children, parents, and several siblings.

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

I never knew you. I am standing here anyway.
Police Officer Bell gave the Philadelphia Police Department 6 years.
Thank you for your service to the Philadelphia community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Police Officer Bell.

— 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 December 23, 1926
Tour of Duty 6 yrs
Age 31
Badge Number 234
Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious
Weapon Gun

The Sacrifice · Felonious

Joseph is one of 15,743 officers killed feloniously in the United States, 57.1% 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
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Compare against
I

Time

In 1926, 209 officers in the United States were killed feloniously, the 9th heaviest of 213 years on record. The heaviest was 1921, with 248.

Every year on record · United States
II

Who

Joseph was 31. Of the 14,220 killed feloniously in the United States whose age is recorded, half were between 31 and 47; the middle age was 38. Joseph had served 6 years; the middle length of service was 6 years.

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

When

December holds 9.4% of these deaths in the United States, more than any other month. Thursdays: 14%.

By month
By day of the week
IV

How

Felonious deaths account for 57.1% of all 27,551 deaths in the United States, the most common cause. The weapon recorded was gun, in 22.8% of these deaths.

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 Edward Bell

Philadelphia Police Department · End of Watch December 23, 1926

Where the Name Is Cut

National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial · Panel 55-E

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