Roll of Honor
Incident
Patrolman David Dragan suffered a fatal heart attack while attempting to arrest a drunk driving suspect following a high-speed pursuit that had started in Mt. Penn. The vehicle came to a stop on Route 73, in Exeter Township, and the man was taken into custody following a struggle. Patrolman Dragan collapsed at the scene. Other officers initiated CPR until he was transported to St. Joseph's Hospital. He was pronounced dead approximately one hour later. Patrolman Dragan was a National Guard veteran. He had served with the Exeter Township Police Department for ten months and had previously served with the Mt. Penn Borough Police Department.
Survivors
He was survived by his wife, five children, grandchild, and three siblings.
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
BO-US-PA-A9052074- 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 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.
Patrolman Dragan served with the Exeter Township Police Department.
Thank you for your service to the Reading community, 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
David Daniel Dragan Sr. served in the the United States military before joining law enforcement.
Patrolman David Daniel Dragan Sr. is one of 1 officers lost to cardiac events in the line of duty across the full record of this memorial — 0% of all 97,759 officers honored here.
In PA, 118 of 1,261 officers were lost to cardiac events in the line of duty — 9.4% of this state's fallen. That is 9.4 percentage points above the national rate of 0%.
National Cause Distribution
How Cardiac compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. David Daniel Dragan Sr.'s cause is highlighted.
How David Daniel Dragan Sr. Compares
When Cardiac Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Cardiac deaths across the full memorial record. David Daniel Dragan Sr. is highlighted in Jul.
Incident Location
Military Service
David Daniel Dragan Sr. served in the United States military before joining law enforcement.
Visit David Daniel Dragan Sr.’s page on salute.nw →
His full service record — units, decorations, where he served — is kept on salute.nw.
Others Who Wore This Badge
0 officers from Exeter Township Police Department are honored on badge.nw.