Philadelphia Police Department, Pennsylvania
End of Watch Sunday, August 19, 2007
Add to My HeroesWalter Thomas Barclay, Jr.
Police Officer Walter Barclay succumbed to complications of a gunshot wound that he received 40 years earlier when he was shot and wounded by a burglary suspect.
Officer Barclay and another officer responded to a burglary call at a hair salon on the 6000 block of North 5th Street. When he arrived, Officer Barclay and another officer confronted a man in the rear of the location, who shot Officer Barclay twice before fleeing. The suspect also engaged additional responding officers in a gun battle, but was able to escape. Due to his wounds, Officer Barclay was left paralyzed from the waist down and forced to retire from the department.
Officer Barclay suffered numerous complications over the span of 40 years as a result of the wounds, which caused his death. His death was ruled a homicide by the medical examiner.
The suspect was arrested in 1966 and charged with aggravated assault. He was convicted and sentenced to 15 years in prison. He has since been released. He was later rearrested by the Philadelphia Police Department after the death of Officer Barclay and charged with murder. On May 24, 2010, the man who shot Officer Barclay was acquitted of murder.
Police Officer Barclay was a U.S Army veteran and had served with the Philadelphia Police Department for 1 1/2 years at the time of the shooting. He is survived by his brother and sister.
Bio
- Age 64
- Tour 1 year, 7 months
- Badge 1410
- Military Veteran
Incident Details
- Cause Gunfire
- Incident Date Sunday, November 27, 1966
- Weapon Handgun; .38 caliber
- Offender Acquitted of murder
Most Recent Reflection
View all 205 ReflectionsThank you for your service and rest in peace always knowing that your sacrifice will never, ever be forgotten.
Detective Cpl/3 Steven Rizzo
Delaware State Police (Retired)
August 19, 2020
Recent LODD Deaths

Police Officer Jacob Russell Chaffins
Prestonsburg Police Department, KY
EOW: July 1, 2022

Deputy Sheriff William Petry
Floyd County Sheriff's Office, KY
EOW: June 30, 2022

Captain Ralph Frasure
Prestonsburg Police Department, KY
EOW: June 30, 2022

Deputy Sheriff Bradley Johnson
Bibb County Sheriff's Office, AL
EOW: June 30, 2022

Reserve Officer Jeffrey Richardson
Poteet Police Department, TX
EOW: June 29, 2022

Sergeant Richard Lopez
Yavapai County Sheriff's Office, AZ
EOW: June 28, 2022

Detention Officer Jeremiah James Story
Perry County Sheriff's Office, AR
EOW: June 22, 2022

Deputy Sheriff Austin Derek Aldridge
Spartanburg County Sheriff's Office, SC
EOW: June 21, 2022

Deputy Sheriff J'Mar Colin Abel
Chambers County Sheriff's Office, AL
EOW: June 20, 2022