Roll of Honor
Charles H. Roche
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
- August 2, 2026
- Last updated
- August 2, 2026
Honored here by 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
Service Record
Incident Details
Chief of Police Charles H. Roche is one of 1 officers killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty across the full record of this memorial — 0% of all 97,772 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 47.3 percentage points above the national rate of 0%.
National Cause Distribution
How Felonious compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. Charles H. Roche's cause is highlighted.
How Charles H. Roche Compares
When Felonious Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. Charles H. Roche is highlighted in Mar.
Weapons Used Against Officers
Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. Charles H. Roche was killed by automobile.
Others Who Wore This Badge
0 officers from Abbottstown / Hamilton Police Department are honored on badge.nw.