Philadelphia, Pennsylvania - Plaque for hero cop slain in 1975 unveiled - 'Bo' Daniels, off-duty, tried to stop holdup
By Damon C. Williams
Not being in uniform or officially on-duty didn't prevent Cpl. William "Bo" Daniels from attempting to halt a robbery of a West Philadelphia bar more than 30 years ago.
So it was that on Dec. 16, 1975, Daniels gave his life protecting the patrons of that bar and the citizens of the neighborhood.
Yesterday, his family and friends, politicians and police brass celebrated Daniels' life during a plaque-dedication ceremony outside the Steak & Ale Pub, the bar that now sits at 58th and Christian, where Daniels was slain.
"I didn't know him personally, but I worked on his case when I was in homicide the night that it happened," said Police Commissioner Sylvester Johnson.
Referring to the ceremony, Johnson said, "I think it sends a strong message to the family and everyone else that once you're in law enforcement and something does happen to you, you're never forgotten."
Daniels, 34, a 12-year police veteran, was off-duty when he stopped by the tavern. While inside, five armed men attempted to rob the place. An unarmed Daniels was shot and killed by the gunmen when he tried to intervene. Johnson said the whole neighborhood, including those in the tavern, had been involved in the eventual capture of the killers, in stark contrast to today's "stop snitchin' " street mantra. "At the time, we had no problems at all getting witnesses," he said.
The way Daniels was respected in the neighborhood and by his peers transcends any street code. "You could always count on Bo in the community," said Albert Crane, a retired police officer and friend. "He was an inspiration." City Councilman Frank Rizzo Jr. said his father, the former mayor and police commissioner, knew the Daniels family and was distraught the night of his murder.
The speakers lauded Daniels for his sense of humor and the colorblind nature of his character, a fact touched on by one of Daniels' sons, Hollywood producer Lee Daniels."My dad taught me that color was insignificant," he recalled, "and I think he got that from the men in blue, and that's what I carried out into the world."
William Daniels' other children, Lydiah, Manard, Cheryl and Leah, also were on hand for the ceremony, as was his widow, Clara Mae. "I am so happy, and this is really an honor," said Clara Mae Daniels. "He was very emotional, and he would have loved this service."
Retrieved September 28, 2006 from http://www.philly.com/mld/dailynews/news/local/15626481.htm
Not being in uniform or officially on-duty didn't prevent Cpl. William "Bo" Daniels from attempting to halt a robbery of a West Philadelphia bar more than 30 years ago.
So it was that on Dec. 16, 1975, Daniels gave his life protecting the patrons of that bar and the citizens of the neighborhood.
Yesterday, his family and friends, politicians and police brass celebrated Daniels' life during a plaque-dedication ceremony outside the Steak & Ale Pub, the bar that now sits at 58th and Christian, where Daniels was slain.
"I didn't know him personally, but I worked on his case when I was in homicide the night that it happened," said Police Commissioner Sylvester Johnson.
Referring to the ceremony, Johnson said, "I think it sends a strong message to the family and everyone else that once you're in law enforcement and something does happen to you, you're never forgotten."
Daniels, 34, a 12-year police veteran, was off-duty when he stopped by the tavern. While inside, five armed men attempted to rob the place. An unarmed Daniels was shot and killed by the gunmen when he tried to intervene. Johnson said the whole neighborhood, including those in the tavern, had been involved in the eventual capture of the killers, in stark contrast to today's "stop snitchin' " street mantra. "At the time, we had no problems at all getting witnesses," he said.
The way Daniels was respected in the neighborhood and by his peers transcends any street code. "You could always count on Bo in the community," said Albert Crane, a retired police officer and friend. "He was an inspiration." City Councilman Frank Rizzo Jr. said his father, the former mayor and police commissioner, knew the Daniels family and was distraught the night of his murder.
The speakers lauded Daniels for his sense of humor and the colorblind nature of his character, a fact touched on by one of Daniels' sons, Hollywood producer Lee Daniels."My dad taught me that color was insignificant," he recalled, "and I think he got that from the men in blue, and that's what I carried out into the world."
William Daniels' other children, Lydiah, Manard, Cheryl and Leah, also were on hand for the ceremony, as was his widow, Clara Mae. "I am so happy, and this is really an honor," said Clara Mae Daniels. "He was very emotional, and he would have loved this service."
Retrieved September 28, 2006 from http://www.philly.com/mld/dailynews/news/local/15626481.htm