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Franklin Arthur Dent
Incident
Chief of Police Franklin Dent was struck and killed by a vehicle while directing traffic at the intersection of Berwick Road and Locust Street.
Upon seeing a speeding car Chief Dent blew his whistle and stepped into the roadway to stop it. The driver of the vehicle instead increased its speed and turned off its lights.
In an attempt to avoid being struck, Chief Dent stepped backward into the path of an oncoming vehicle. He was transported to Bloomsburg Hospital, where he succumbed to his injuries. The driver of the vehicle he attempted to stop was never identified.
Chief Dent was a U.S. Marine Corps veteran of the Spanish-American War and had served with the Bloomsburg Police Department for only eight months.
Survivors
He was survived by his wife and four children.
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
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- Maintained by NeuraWeb Global Inc.
- 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. Marine Corps. One record, 2 gates. Franklin 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.
Chief of Police Dent served with the Bloomsburg Police Department.
Thank you for your service to the Bloomsburg community. Thank you 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
Franklin Arthur Dent served in the U.S. Marine Corps before joining law enforcement.
The Sacrifice · Accident
Franklin is the only officer of Bloomsburg Police Department remembered here.
Franklin is one of 417 officers lost to accidents in PA, 33% of the 1,262 remembered there.
Franklin is one of 8,276 officers lost to accidents in the United States, 30% of the 27,552 remembered there.
Franklin 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 1927, 13 officers in PA were lost to accidents, the 2nd heaviest of 133 years on record. The heaviest was 1932, with 14.
In 1927, 114 officers in the United States were lost to accidents, the 2nd heaviest of 174 years on record. The heaviest was 1929, with 118.
In 1927, 119 officers worldwide were lost to accidents, the 4th heaviest of 200 years on record. The heaviest was 1930, with 131.
Who
Franklin was 42. Of the 412 lost to accidents in PA whose age is recorded, half were between 31 and 48.3; the middle age was 38. Franklin had served 0.7 years; the middle length of service was 8.6 years.
Franklin was 42. 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. Franklin had served 0.7 years; the middle length of service was 6 years.
Franklin was 42. Of the 9,452 lost to accidents worldwide whose age is recorded, half were between 29 and 45; the middle age was 36. Franklin had served 0.7 years; the middle length of service was 6 years.
When
August holds 8.4% of these deaths in PA; October holds the most, 10.6%. Sundays: 16.3%.
August holds 9.4% of these deaths in the United States, more than any other month. Sundays: 14%.
August holds 9.3% of these deaths worldwide, more than any other month. Sundays: 14%.
How
Accident deaths account for 100% of all 1 deaths at Bloomsburg Police Department.
Accident deaths account for 33% of all 1,262 deaths in PA, 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.
Where
Military Service
Franklin Arthur Dent served in the U.S. Marine Corps before joining law enforcement.
Visit Franklin Arthur Dent’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 17-W
What is kept
Photographs, film, sound and papers — what survived a life.
Also Remembered
Others Who Wore This Badge
0 officers from Bloomsburg Police Department are honored on badge.nw.