Philadelphia Housing Authority Police Department, Pennsylvania
End of Watch: Wednesday, April 12, 1995
Age: 27
Tour of Duty: 1 year, 8 months
Badge Number: 727
Cause of Death: Gunfire
Date of Incident: April 11, 1995
Weapon Used: Handgun
Suspect Info: Sentenced to life
Police Officer Alvin Palmer succumbed to a gunshot wound sustained the previous day while chasing a robbery suspect in the area of Fifth Street and Westmoreland Street.
The owner of a restaurant that had just been robbed chased the suspects and then flagged down Officer Palmer and his partner when he enountered them. The officers located the suspect and took one female into custody before her male accomplices ran from the scene. Officer Palmer was shot in the face as he chased one of the men.
The subject who shot him was sentenced to life in prison.
Officer Palmer was a United States Marine Corps veteran and had served with the Philadelphia Housing Authority Police Department for 20 months. He is survived by his wife, son, and two daughters.