Roll of Honor
Incident
Private John Henry and Private Francis Zehringer were shot and killed while attempting to apprehend fugitives barricaded in a house in Jefferson County. Private Henry was called to the home after reinforcements were requested. Upon arrival he immediately advanced on the house but was shot when he got within 20-feet of the home. More reinforcements were called in approximately two hours later and another attempt was made to gain entry to the home. In this attempt Private Zehringer was shot and killed and two other officers were seriously wounded. During the night, under the cover of darkness and rain, officers approached the house and planted dynamite around it. At dawn they detonated the dynamite, destroying the house and killing all of the fugitives inside. Private Henry was a United States Marine Corps veteran of the Spanish-American War, and the China expedition of 1900. He served with the Pennsylvania State Police for eight months and was the first constabulary member to be killed in the line of duty. He was assigned to Troop D, Punxsutawney, present-day Troop C, Punxsutawney.
Survivors
He was survived by his sister and is buried at Saint Denis Cemetery in Havertown, Pennsylvania.
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
BO-US-PA-6B723F26- 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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Also honored at salute.nw — U.S. Marine Corps. One record, 2 gates. John is one person.
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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.
Private Henry served with the Pennsylvania State Police.
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
John F. Henry served in the U.S. Marine Corps before joining law enforcement.
Private John F. Henry 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 97,759 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 Pennsylvania State Police, 34 of 87 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 39.1% of this agency's fallen.
National Cause Distribution
How Felonious compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. John F. Henry's cause is highlighted.
How John F. Henry Compares
When Felonious Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. John F. Henry is highlighted in Sep.
Weapons Used Against Officers
Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. John F. Henry was killed by shotgun.
Incident Location
Military Service
John F. Henry served in the U.S. Marine Corps before joining law enforcement.
Visit John F. Henry’s page on salute.nw →
His full service record — units, decorations, where he served — is kept on salute.nw.
Others Who Wore This Badge
86 officers from Pennsylvania State Police are honored on badge.nw. Showing the 16 most recent.
