Roll of Honor
Incident
Patrolman Edward Riebsamen was shot and killed while assisting a constable and a Luzerne County sheriff's deputy serve eviction papers at a home that had just been sold in a sheriff's sale. The home was located in a settlement known as Poke Hollow, in Larksville.
The constable and deputy had requested assistance from the Wilkes-Barre Police Department after encountering resistance from the family in the home the previous day. Patrolman Riebsamen was sent with the officers to assist them with evicting the family.
As the officers entered the yard upon returning with Officer Riebsamen, the family attacked them again and starting throwing items at them. When Patrolman Riebsamen attempted to arrest one of the female family members two of her brothers opened fire with shotguns from the second floor window, striking him in the head and killing him instantly.
Patrolman Riebsamen had served with the Wilkes-Barre Police Department for three years.
Survivors
He was survived by his wife and several children.
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
BO-US-PA-AAE35DB0- 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
151 years is a long time for a name to go unread. Not today.
Patrolman Riebsamen gave the Wilkes-Barre Police Department 3 years.
Thank you for your service to the Wilkes-Barre community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
Patrolman Edward Riebsamen 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%.
At Wilkes-Barre Police Department, 2 of 6 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 33.3% of this agency's fallen.
National Cause Distribution
How Felonious compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. Edward Riebsamen's cause is highlighted.
How Edward Riebsamen Compares
When Felonious Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. Edward Riebsamen is highlighted in Apr.
Weapons Used Against Officers
Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. Edward Riebsamen was killed by shotgun.
Incident Location
Others Who Wore This Badge
5 officers from Wilkes-Barre Police Department are honored on badge.nw.
