Firefighters: 34
Law Enforcement: 13
Medical: 4
Emanuel Swope, Firefighter
Lancaster City Bureau Of Fire, Lancaster, PA
Date of Death: 06/17/1883
Davis Kitch, Firefighter
Lancaster City Bureau Of Fire, Lancaster, PA
Date of Death: 12/20/1893
Edward Demora, Firefighter
Lancaster City Bureau Of Fire, Lancaster, PA
Date of Death: 05/24/1906
Stanley W. Christ, Private
Pennsylvania State Police, Harrisburg, PA
Date of Death: 12/01/1919
Harry S. Hartman, Chief of Police
Columbia Boro Police Department, Columbia, PA
Date of Death: 04/04/1923
Ben F. Mcevoy, Corporal
Pennsylvania State Police, Lancaster, PA
Date of Death: 09/21/1923
Elwood Gainor, Lieutenant
Lancaster City Bureau Of Police, Lancaster, PA
Date of Death: 03/28/1927
Issac C. Dunn, Firefighter
Ephrata Pioneer Steam Fire Engine Co. No. 1, Ephrata, PA
Date of Death: 07/18/1927
John Hostetter, Firefighter
Salisbury Township Fire Co. No. 1, Gap, PA
Date of Death: 07/16/1932
Martin Baldwin, Firefighter
Lancaster City Bureau Of Fire, Lancaster, PA
Date of Death: 01/14/1934
Chester Arthur Coen, Firefighter
Friendship Fire Company, Mount Joy, PA
Date of Death: 07/10/1936
Abner Hull, Constable
Lancaster County Constable, Lancaster, PA
Date of Death: 07/16/1936
Burnell Imhoff, Chief Of Police
New Holland Borough Police Dept, New Holland, PA
Date of Death: 06/07/1939

New Holland police Chief Burnell Imhoff was just 39 years old when he died in the line of duty in 1939. Imhoff was New Holland’s third police chief and served three and a half years, from December 1935 until his death on June 7, 1939.

The accident that ultimately claimed her father’s life took place 72 years ago, on June 5, 1939. Imhoff was on his motorcycle in pursuit of a motorist who had committed a traffic violation when another vehicle ran a stop sign at an intersection. Trying to avoid a collision, the chief swerved. His cycle hit a curb and threw him into a building.

A doctor arrived at the scene and instructed that the chief be taken home to rest. Later that night, however, Imhoff’s condition worsened. He was rushed to the former St. Joseph Hospital in Lancaster, where he died from internal bleeding on June 7.

M. Richard Supplee, Firefighter
Intercourse Fire Company, Intercourse, PA
Date of Death: 04/17/1942
Charles Herzog, Battalion Chief
Lancaster City Bureau Of Fire, Lancaster, PA
Date of Death: 03/07/1944
C. Roy Wiebush, Firefighter
Lancaster City Bureau Of Fire, Lancaster, PA
Date of Death: 06/12/1946
Samuel B. Miller, Assistant Chief
Friendship Fire Company, Mount Joy, PA
Date of Death: 12/05/1950
Walter R. Bucks, Firefighter
Lancaster City Bureau Of Fire, Lancaster, PA
Date of Death: 02/14/1951
John W. Hendrix, Firefighter
Friendship Fire Company, Mount Joy, PA
Date of Death: 08/01/1951
Cleve Yoder, Firefighter
Lancaster City Bureau Of Fire, Lancaster, PA
Date of Death: 03/30/1954
Walter F. Sherts, Firefighter
West Lancaster Fire Co., Lancaster, PA
Date of Death: 10/27/1956
Harry Myers, Firefighter
Lancaster City Bureau Of Fire, Lancaster, PA
Date of Death: 04/20/1960
Marvin R. Foltz, Chief Of Police
East Donegal Township Police Dept, Maytown, PA
Date of Death: 04/07/1967
William H. Snyder, Firefighter
Ephrata Pioneer Steam Fire Engine Co. No. 1, Ephrata, PA
Date of Death: 05/09/1968
Dennis Hackman, Firefighter
Willow Street Fire Company,Willow Street, PA
Date of Death: 06/22/1972

Firefighter Dennis Hackman was killed in the line of duty while affecting a swift water rescue during Hurricane Agnes in 1972.

Harry E. Sides, Firefighter
Lancaster City Bureau Of Fire, Lancaster, PA
Date of Death: 09/20/1972
Michael Richard Sanger, Patrol Officer
East Earl Township Police Dept., East Earl, PA
Date of Death: 10/07/1972
Robert D. Lapp Jr., Trooper
Pennsylvania State Police, Harrisburg, PA
Date of Death: 10/16/1972
Richard D. Dobson, Firefighter
Smokestown Fire Company, Smokestown, PA
Date of Death: 04/21/1979
Jeffrey Jones, Firefighter
Bausman Fire Company, Lancaster, PA
Date of Death: 06/13/1981
Bruce Ditlow, Paramedic
Saint Josephs Hospital Medic 1, Lancaster, PA
Date of Death: 06/13/1981
Kevin Weatherlow, Paramedic
Saint Josephs Hospital Medic 1, Lancaster, PA
Date of Death: 06/13/1981
Gordon D. Stark, Fire Chief
Pequea Fire Company, Pequea, PA
Date of Death: 08/12/1981
G. Michael Crouse, Firefighter
Reinholds Fire Company, Reinholds, PA
Date of Death: 03/29/1982
Delbert R. Flowers Jr., Sergeant
Manheim Borough Police Dept, Manheim, PA
Date of Death: 11/09/1984
Paul I. Almer, Corporal
Pennsylvania State Police, Harrisburg, PA
Date of Death: 04/12/1989

Corporal Paul Almer and Trooper Wayne Bilheimer were killed in a helicopter crash while searching for a body in the Susquehanna River in southern York County, Pennsylvania.

Corporal Almer was piloting the aircraft when it struck high-voltage power lines at an altitude of approximately 90 feet. The helicopter crashed into approximately ten feet of water, with both officers trapped inside. Trooper Bilheimer succumbed to multiple trauma injuries and Corporal Almer drowned. Both officers were found still strapped into their harnesses.

Corporal Almer had served with the Pennsylvania State Police for 14 years. He had previously served as a combat helicopter pilot with the United States Army during Vietnam War for 18 months. He was survived by his mother and fiancee.

Wayne D. Bilheimer, Trooper
Pennsylvania State Police, Harrisburg, PA
Date of Death: 04/12/1989

Trooper Wayne Bilheimer and Corporal Paul Almer were killed in a helicopter crash at approximately 0730 hours while searching for a body in the Susquehanna River in southern York County, Pennsylvania.

Corporal Almer was piloting the aircraft when it struck high-voltage power lines at an altitude of approximately 90 feet. The helicopter crashed into approximately ten feet of water, with both officers trapped inside. Trooper Bilheimer succumbed to multiple trauma injuries and Corporal Almer drowned. Both officers were found still strapped into their harnesses.

Trooper Bilheimer had served with the Pennsylvania State Police for 21 years. He was survived by his wife of 24 years.

J. Brian Harnly, Engineer
Eden Fire Company No. 1, Lancaster, PA
Date of Death: 05/19/1989
Thomas W. Wohlfeil Sr., Constable
Lancaster County Constable, Lancaster, PA
Date of Death: 11/24/1989
Fred Garber, Firefighter
New Danville Fire Company, New Danville, PA
Date of Death: 07/10/1990

Firefighter Garber was killed responding to a call when his pickup truck was hit head-on by New Danville’s Engine 2, a fire engine from his own company. It is believed that the Engine hydroplaned due to bad weather conditions. Garber was heading towards the fire house to drive Engine 1 to a house fire.

Ethel Speros, EMT
EMT, Willow Street Ambulance, Willow Street, PA
Date of Death: 03/15/1991

EMT Ethel Speros who was killed in the line of duty when a wall collapsed on her while she tried to give aid to a victim of car accident in 1989.

Thomas J. Horvath, Firefighter
Lancaster City Bureau Of Fire, Lancaster, PA
Date of Death: 06/16/1992

Thomas J. Horvath died after responding to a fire on Euclid Avenue. The 46-year-old, who had been a city firefighter for 23 years, collapsed on the scene after suffering a heart attack. His fellow firefighters tried to resuscitate him, but to no avail.

Douglas A. Shertzer Sr., Chief Of Police
Chief Of Police, Lititz Borough Police Dept., Lititz, PA
Date of Death: 05/11/2004

Chief Shertzer was killed in a motorcycle accident while on duty. He was driving the department’s motorcycle through East Hempfield Township when an oncoming car made a left turn in front of him, causing a collision. He was transported to Lancaster General Hospital where he died a short time later while undergoing surgery.

He had completed a police motorcycle training course earlier in the month, and was driving the department’s new motorcycle.

Chief Shertzer had served as chief of the 14-person Lititz Borough Police Department for 10 years, and had served with the agency for a total of 23 years. He is survived by his wife, three children, and four grandchildren.

David A. Sauder, EMT
EMT, Leola Ambulance Association, Leola, PA
Date of Death: 02/16/2007

David Sauder, EMT, was responding to a Class 1 call when the vehicle he was riding in went out of control on ice covered roads. David sustained injuries that were non recoverable. He died as dedicated personnel and friends worked feverishly to save his life.

Volunteer EMT Sauder, was responding with another medic when their vehicle slid off the road hitting a snow bank and tree. Sauder, a Passenger, was ejected from the vehicle and died.

John G. Lawrence, Firefighter
Bart Township Fire Company, Bart, PA
Date of Death: 03/07/2009

Fire policeman and special division member John G, Lawrence passed away directing traffic at Bart Township Fire Company annual mud sale on March 7, 2009.

Keith G. Rankin, Lieutenant-Firefighter
Lancaster Township Fire Department, Lancaster Township, PA
Date of Death: 09/25/2011

Firefighter Lieutenant Keith G. Rankin, an experienced volunteer firefighter in Lancaster Township, collapsed and during a live burn training at LCFA Fire school in West Lampeter Twp. CPR was initiated by firefighters and an AED was applied. CPR was continued in the ambulance while en-route to the hospital.  Lieutenant Rankin was pronounced dead at the hospital.

Keith Rankin was 38 years old and had served his community for 23 years with Lancaster Township Fire Department. Keith had been an assistant chief in the past and had again achieved the rank of lieutenant. Keith also was named Firefighter of the Year after rescuing a woman from a fire. Keith loved to teach other firefighters how to be better firemen. He also worked as a Pennsylvania State Constable.

Edward N. Steffy, Firefighter
Rothsville Fire Company, Rothsville, PA
Date of Death: 11/10/2011

Fire Police Officer Steffy and the members of his fire department responded to a vehicle crash in their community. As firefighters completed their work at the scene, they received word that a Fire Police Officer had become ill at his traffic control position. Firefighters responded to the traffic control position and found Fire Police Officer Steffy slumped over on the seat of his car. CPR was initiated by firefighters and bystanders. An ambulance arrived and an AED was applied. CPR was continued in the ambulance while en-route to the hospital. Fire Police Officer Steffy was pronounced dead at the hospital due to a heart attack.

Steven C. Henry Sr., Firefighter
Columbia Consolidated Fire Department, Columbia, PA
Date of Death: 09/06/2012

Capt. Steven Henry Sr., of the Columbia Borough Special Fire Police, answered his final alarm on Sept. 5. He felt ill while on a call with the Columbia Consolidated Fire Dept. He went to his primary care physician. The following day, he suffered cardiac arrest. Henry was 52.

Henry started out his volunteer career with the Maytown – East Donegal Township Fire Department in 1978 and later joining the Shawnee Fire Company. During his tenure, he served in the capacity of Chief Engineer, Captain, 2nd and 1st Assistant Fire Chief, Deputy Chief, Fire Chief and finally President.

After serving as a firefighter for more than twenty-five years, he became very active with the Columbia Borough Special Fire Police and has served as the captain.

Christi M. Rodgers, Firefighter
Robert Fulton Fire Company, Peach Bottom, PA
Date of Death: 10/24/2012

A pager woke up Christi Rodgers early Friday so she could go out and do what she has done for 10 years — help others as a volunteer firefighter. She had difficulty breathing when she was awakened by an alert to respond to a house fire. Rodgers then went into cardiac arrest and was taken to the hospital, where she was pronounced dead.

Michael T. Reese, Fire Chief
Willow Street Fire Company, Willow Street, PA
Date of Death: 08/23/2018
William Norman Franck, Fire Police Officer
Willow Street Fire Company, Willow Street, PA
Date of Death: 05/12/2019