Wednesday marked solemn anniversaries for the Philadelphia police and fire departments as both departments marked the loss of one of their own.
Police Officer Daniel Faulkner was gunned down on Dec. 9, 1981 in Center City Philadelphia while fire Lt. Joyce Craig died battling a West Oak Lane blaze one year ago.
Faulkner’s murder became known around the world as his killer Mumia Abu-Jamal got celebrity support in fighting his conviction and got a reprieve from Death Row. Faulkner, married for only a year, was just 25 at the time of his killing at 13th and Locust streets.
Craig, a mother of two, became the first woman firefighter killed in the line of duty in Philadelphia. She was just 36 at the time.
The Philadelphia Fire Department planned to mark Craig’s passing with a flashlight vigil at Engine 64 – where Craig served – at Rising Sun Avenue and Benner Street in Lawncrest at 6:30 p.m.
And, people around the Philadelphia region paused Wednesday to remember Faulkner.