Roll of Honor

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Chief of Police

Charles H. Roche

Abbottstown / Hamilton Police Department — Abbottstown, PA

Felonious

End of Watch March 5, 1977

Age 48

Badge 1

The Vigil Panel 118 ›

Gender Male

Incident Service The Sacrifice

Incident

Chief Roche was killed when he was struck by a drunk driver while working an accident scene on Pine Run Road. He was retrieving flares from the trunk of his unmarked vehicle when the driver struck him. Chief Roche was transported to Hanover Hospital where he died one hour later. The suspect was found guilty of DUI and involuntary manslaughter and sentenced to a maximum of 23 months. However, his conviction was overturned by the Superior Court of Pennsylvania.

Survivors

Chief Roche was survived by his wife and child.

In Our Keeping

Permanent identifier: BO-US-PA-F7679250
Stewardship: Maintained by NeuraWeb Global Inc.
Added to badge.nw: April 2, 2026
Last updated: July 23, 2026

Honored here by 1 sentinel - 1 tribute.

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Tributes

I never knew you. I am standing here anyway.
Chief of Police Roche served with the Abbottstown / Hamilton Police Department.
Thank you for your service to the Abbottstown community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Chief of Police Roche.

— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993

Agency

Department Abbottstown / Hamilton Police Department

Location Abbottstown, PA

Platform Identity ahpd.adams.pa.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch March 5, 1977

Age 48

Badge Number 1

Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious

Weapon Automobile; Alcohol involved

Offender Acquitted on appeal

Chief of Police Charles H. Roche is one of 17,623 officers killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty across the full record of this memorial — 54.2% of all 32,508 officers honored here.

In PA, 597 of 1,261 officers were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 47.3% of this state's fallen. That is 6.9 percentage points below the national rate of 54.2%.

Abbottstown / Hamilton Police Department

of 1 officers

100% Felonious

PA — Statewide

597

of 1,261 officers

47.3% Felonious

Nationwide

17,623

of 32,508 officers

54.2% Felonious

National Cause Distribution

How Felonious compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. Charles H. Roche's cause is highlighted.

Felonious

17,623 (54.2%)

Accident

10,088 (31%)

Illness

2,974 (9.1%)

Cardiac

1,306 (4%)

Undetermined

260 (0.8%)

Suicide

256 (0.8%)

vehicular

1 (0%)

How Charles H. Roche Compares

Age at End of Watch

This officer

Avg for Felonious: 39.0 years

Offender Outcome

Acquitted on appeal

When Felonious Deaths Occur

Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. Charles H. Roche is highlighted in Mar.

Jan

1,392

Feb

1,295

Mar

1,373

Apr

1,517

May

1,505

Jun

1,443

Jul

1,587

Aug

1,516

Sep

1,553

Oct

1,371

Nov

1,447

Dec

1,624

Weapons Used Against Officers

Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. Charles H. Roche was killed by automobile; alcohol involved.

Gun; Unknown type

5,083

Handgun

2,077

Shotgun

922

Officer's handgun

909

Automobile; Alcohol involved

530

Rifle

518