Incident
Police Officer Jessica Ebbighausen was killed when her patrol car was struck head-on by a suspect vehicle being pursued by other officers at about 3:00 pm.
Officers responding to a burglary in progress on East Washington Street began pursuing the suspect who was driving a pickup truck. Officer Ebbighausen, along with her training officer, was responding from the opposite direction. As the pursuit entered the intersection of Stratton Road and Woodstock Avenue, the suspect vehicle crossed the center line and collided with Officer Ebbighausen's patrol car head-on. The truck then collided with a second patrol car.
Officer Ebbighausen succumbed to her injuries at the scene. Two other officers and the suspect were injured in the collision. The man was taken into custody.
The subject was charged with aggravated murder.
Officer Ebbighausen was a part-time officer in field training in preparation for attending the Vermont Police Academy to become a full-time officer the following month.
Survivors
She is survived by her parents, two brothers, maternal grandmother, paternal grandparents, and boyfriend.
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
BO-US-VT-C163EC4A- 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.
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Tributes
I never knew you. I am standing here anyway.
Police Officer Ebbighausen served with the Rutland City Police Department.
Thank you for your service to the Rutland community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Police Officer Ebbighausen.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
Police Officer Jessica Ebbighausen is one of 17,623 officers killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty across the full record of this memorial — 54.2% of all 32,508 officers honored here.
In VT, 12 of 31 officers were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 38.7% of this state's fallen. That is 15.5 percentage points below the national rate of 54.2%.
National Cause Distribution
How Felonious compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. Jessica Ebbighausen's cause is highlighted.
How Jessica Ebbighausen Compares
Offender Outcome
Charged with murder
When Felonious Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. Jessica Ebbighausen is highlighted in Jul.
Weapons Used Against Officers
Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. Jessica Ebbighausen was killed by automobile.