Philadelphia Police Department, Pennsylvania
End of Watch: Friday, January 19, 1996
Age: 28
Tour of Duty: 7 years
Badge Number: 6478
Cause of Death: Gunfire
Date of Incident: January 19, 1996
Weapon Used: Handgun
Suspect Info: Sentenced to life
Officer Petey Porter was shot and killed on the night of January 19, 1996, after an argument outside of a bar. Officer Porter and another officer were both off duty and were recognized as police officers by three men. The other officer had testified against one of the suspects earlier in the day.
The two officers got into a vehicle and started to drive away when the suspects pulled up next to them and shot Officer Porter in the head, killing him. He was pronounced dead on arrival at the Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania.
All three suspects were convicted of murder and sentenced to life. It is believed that the other officer had been the intended target because he had shot and arrested one of the suspects in 1995.
Officer Porter had served with the Philadelphia Police Department for seven years and served as an undercover narcotics officer. He was survived by his stepson, two siblings, and parents.