Roll of Honor
George B. Knapp
Incident
Assistant County Detective George Knapp was shot and killed as he and the chief county detective attempted to raid a still on a mountaintop near Equinunk, Pennsylvania.
The officers had to park their car approximately two miles from the still site due to the remoteness of the location. As they approached the owner's hut the man opened fire on them with a rifle, striking the chief county detective. Hearing the shot, Detective Knapp ran from the rear of the house but was shot once in the chest and killed instantly.
The man then shot the chief detective a second time. The chief detective was able to escape from the scene and call for help, but the man committed suicide before responding officers could get to the home and arrest him.
A friend of the man was charged with being an accessory after the fact for refusing to render aid to the chief detective as he attempted to seek help.
Detective Knapp had previously served with the Honesdale Borough Police Department.
Survivors
He was survived by his wife and six children.
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
BO-US-PA-20316DFC- 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.
Assistant County Detective Knapp gave the Wayne County District Attorney's Office 2 years.
Thank you for your service to the Honesdale community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Assistant County Detective Knapp.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
Assistant County Detective George B. Knapp 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. George B. Knapp's cause is highlighted.
How George B. Knapp Compares
When Felonious Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. George B. Knapp is highlighted in May.
Weapons Used Against Officers
Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. George B. Knapp was killed by rifle.
Incident Location
Others Who Wore This Badge
0 officers from Wayne County District Attorney's Office are honored on badge.nw.