Roll of Honor
Incident
Trooper Herbert A. Wirfel was killed in a traffic crash while attempting to stop a traffic violator in terrible weather conditions. His cruiser struck a snow drift, partially covering the passing lane. It then slid off the other side of the highway into a snow bank. Trooper Wirfel was a U.S. Air Force veteran and had served with the Pennsylvania State Police for 20 years.
Survivors
He is survived by his wife and seven children.
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
BO-US-PA-DEA3E64E- 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.
Are you family? This record can be claimed and maintained by those who knew Herbert. Claim this record.
This page is permanent and free. No fee to view it, no advertising, no tracking, and no account required. It will not be taken down.
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.
Trooper Wirfel gave the Pennsylvania State Police 20 years.
Thank you for your service to the people of Pennsylvania, 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
Herbert A. Wirfel served in the United States military before joining law enforcement. Full service record available on salute.nw.
Trooper Herbert A. Wirfel is one of 10,088 officers lost to accidents in the line of duty across the full record of this memorial — 31% of all 32,508 officers honored here.
In PA, 417 of 1,261 officers were lost to accidents in the line of duty — 33.1% of this state's fallen. That is 2.1 percentage points above the national rate of 31%.
At Pennsylvania State Police, 42 of 87 officers on record were lost to accidents in the line of duty — 48.3% of this agency's fallen.
National Cause Distribution
How Accident compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. Herbert A. Wirfel's cause is highlighted.
How Herbert A. Wirfel Compares
When Accident Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Accident deaths across the full memorial record. Herbert A. Wirfel is highlighted in Feb.
Incident Location
Others Who Wore This Badge
86 officers from Pennsylvania State Police are honored on badge.nw. Showing the 16 most recent.
