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Charles Straining Rathell
Incident
Trooper First Class Charles Rathell and Trooper First Class Donald Parkerson were killed when their Bell Jet Ranger helicopter crashed near the intersection of Muirkirk Road and Route 1. They were attempting an emergency landing after an engine failure at 5:15 p.m. Trooper Rathell was a United States Navy veteran and had served with the Maryland State Police for almost six years.
Survivors
He was survived by his wife, parents, and sister.
In Our Keeping
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- Added to badge.nw
- August 2, 2026
- Last updated
- August 2, 2026
Honored here by 1 tribute.
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Also honored at salute.nw — U.S. Navy. One record, 2 gates. Charles is one person.
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Tributes
I served 1985 to 1993. You served too, before the badge - different uniform, same idea. You go where you are sent and you do not get to pick the call.
Trooper First Class Rathell gave the Maryland State Police 6 years.
Thank you for your service to the people of Maryland, and for your service before it. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, brother.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
Military Service
Charles Straining Rathell served in the U.S. Navy (1965â1967) before joining law enforcement.
The Sacrifice · Accident
Maryland State Police has lost 42 officers; 28 of them lost to accidents.
Charles is one of 141 officers lost to accidents in MD, 37.3% of the 378 remembered there.
Charles is one of 8,276 officers lost to accidents in the United States, 30% of the 27,552 remembered there.
Charles is one of 10,096 officers lost to accidents worldwide, 29.6% of the 34,103 remembered here.
34,103 officers are remembered on this memorial. Each number below is one of them.
Time
In 1973, 2 officers at Maryland State Police were lost to accidents, more than in any other year.
In 1973, 2 officers in MD were lost to accidents, the 12th heaviest of 88 years on record. The heaviest was 1925, with 6.
In 1973, 90 officers in the United States were lost to accidents, the 13th heaviest of 174 years on record. The heaviest was 1929, with 118.
In 1973, 106 officers worldwide were lost to accidents, the 13th heaviest of 200 years on record. The heaviest was 1930, with 131.
Who
Charles was 27. Of the 28 lost to accidents at Maryland State Police whose age is recorded, half were between 25 and 30.3; the middle age was 27. Charles had served 6 years; the middle length of service was 3 years.
Charles was 27. Of the 133 lost to accidents in MD whose age is recorded, half were between 27 and 42; the middle age was 33. Charles had served 6 years; the middle length of service was 6 years.
Charles was 27. Of the 7,718 lost to accidents in the United States whose age is recorded, half were between 29 and 46; the middle age was 36. Charles had served 6 years; the middle length of service was 6 years.
Charles was 27. Of the 9,452 lost to accidents worldwide whose age is recorded, half were between 29 and 45; the middle age was 36. Charles had served 6 years; the middle length of service was 6 years.
When
September holds 17.9% of these deaths at Maryland State Police; October holds the most, 21.4%. Tuesdays: 7.1%.
September holds 11.3% of these deaths in MD; October holds the most, 15.6%. Tuesdays: 13.5%.
September holds 9.2% of these deaths in the United States; August holds the most, 9.4%. Tuesdays: 14.1%.
September holds 9.1% of these deaths worldwide; August holds the most, 9.3%. Tuesdays: 14%.
How
Accident deaths account for 66.7% of all 42 deaths at Maryland State Police, the most common cause.
Accident deaths account for 37.3% of all 378 deaths in MD, the 2nd most common cause.
Accident deaths account for 30% of all 27,552 deaths in the United States, the 2nd most common cause.
Accident deaths account for 29.6% of all 34,103 deaths worldwide, the 2nd most common cause.
His people
Maryland State Police has 42 officers remembered here, Charles among them.
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John W. Jeffrey
Sep 1, 1921
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William G. Lochner, Jr.
Apr 18, 1923
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Raymond O. Eicholtz
May 27, 1923
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Hugh K. Painter
Mar 31, 1924
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Albert E. Cramblitt
Oct 1, 1925
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James S. Noon
Dec 15, 1927
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Clinton Richard Rhodes
Jan 28, 1931
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Theodore Augustus Moore
Sep 25, 1932
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Imla Doran Hubbard
Mar 4, 1933
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Joseph E. Kuhn
Apr 8, 1934
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Carroll C. Creeger
Dec 23, 1934
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Wilbert V. Hunter
Feb 7, 1936
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J. F. Leo Shaab
Jul 22, 1937
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Ellsworth D. Dryden
Oct 7, 1938
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Lauren M. Ridge
Jul 14, 1950
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Leonard N. Brown
Jul 7, 1958
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Arthur W. Plummer, Jr.
Apr 9, 1961
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Thomas Asa Noyle
Oct 28, 1972
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Phillip Lee Russ
Oct 28, 1972
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Donald Eugene Parkerson, Jr.
Sep 18, 1973
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Charles Straining Rathell
Sep 18, 1973
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Milton Veasily Purnell, Jr.
May 29, 1975
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Mart Hudson, Jr.
Jun 16, 1975
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Wallace Johnson Mowbray
Aug 10, 1975
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Gregg Alexander Presbury
Dec 17, 1977
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William P. Mills, Jr.
Jun 8, 1979
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Gary L. Wade
Jan 30, 1982
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Gregory A. May
Jan 19, 1986
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Carey S. Poetzman
Jan 19, 1986
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John Edward Sawa
Mar 10, 1987
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Larry Eugene Small
Mar 10, 1987
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Eric Dwight Monk
Apr 9, 1988
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Theodore Dennis Wolf, Sr.
Mar 29, 1990
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Mark P. Groner
Oct 1, 1992
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Edward Plank
Oct 17, 1995
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Joseph Thomas Lanzi
Oct 28, 1995
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Raymond Gerald Armstead, Jr.
Mar 25, 1998
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Edward M. Toatley
Oct 30, 2000
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Anthony Jones
May 9, 2004
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Mickey Charles Lippy
Sep 28, 2008
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Wesley Washington John Brown
Jun 11, 2010
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Shaft Sidney Hunter
May 21, 2011
Where
Military Service
Charles Straining Rathell served in the U.S. Navy (1965–1967) before joining law enforcement.
Visit Charles Straining Rathell’s page on salute.nw →
His full service record — units, decorations, where he served — is kept on salute.nw.
Where the Name Is Cut
National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial · Panel 42-E
What is kept
Photographs, film, sound and papers — what survived a life.
Also Remembered
Others Who Wore This Badge
41 officers from Maryland State Police are honored on badge.nw. Showing the 16 most recent.
