Pennsylvania State Police Troop C holds memorial to remember fallen troopers

PUNXSUTAWNEY, Pa. (WTAJ) – Pennsylvania State Police Troop C held a memorial for all the fallen troopers in the 119-year history of the department.

The Pennsylvania State Police was founded in 1905 and ever since its founding, there have been 104 members killed on duty. Most recently Trooper Jacques Rogeau Jr., was killed in action after being ambushed and killed by a gunshot through the windshield of his patrol car.

At Troop C, there have been four individuals killed in the line of duty.

Those four members, Privates John F. Henry and Francis A. Zehringer were murdered by members of the black hand society. Patrolman Russel R. Swanson was murdered during a traffic stop, and Trooper Monty R. Mitchell suffered a heart attack on duty.

“We have all become very close and we respect them and what they’ve done with their career and their lives,” First Class Trooper Vaughn Norbert said. “To put their lives on the line for us and for our communities, for our families, they’ve done everything they can.”

The memorial showcased what the troopers did while on duty along with what they did before joining the department. The biggest message for everyone was to save the memory of everyone who has fallen and to get more involved in communities.

“We have to strive to do our best to respect them and honor them,” Norbert said. “Bringing back the memories so we don’t forget. We can forget our past and how we can climb forward from this. Hopefully with the communities that we get involved with, we become closer knit and we can figure out the problems and issues that we can handle them better.”

The memorial was also a reminder of how men and women put their lives on the line to help others in the communities they serve.

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“As troopers, we recognize the risk of our duty and accept that we may be asked to lay down our lives. However, our loved ones did not sign up for this loss. And while they may understand the risks, they also expect this world to take care of its peacekeepers,” Major William S. Maitland said.

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