Police Officer Joseph Charles Friel

Joseph Charles Friel

Police Officer Joseph Friel was killed when his patrol car was struck by another vehicle driven by a drunk driver on Ridge Avenue near Acorn Street at 2:30 a.m.

The 26-year-old driver was convicted of vehicular homicide and drunk driving and sentenced to 3 to 6 years in jail.

One of Officer Friel's uncles was killed in the line of duty in 1986 while serving with the Philadelphia Fire Department.

Officer Friel was a United States Air Force veteran and had served with the Philadelphia Police Department for only 6 months and was assigned to the 5th Police District. He was survived by his son, two sisters, a brother, and a fiancee. Officer Friel's younger brother also served as a Philadelphia police officer.