Roll of Honor
Incident
Corporal Joseph Pokorny was shot and killed following a short pursuit near an exit ramp from I-376 in Carnegie, Pennsylvania, shortly after 2:00 am.
A violent struggle ensued after the driver of the vehicle crashed. During the struggle the suspect was able to gain control of Corporal Pokorny's service weapon. The suspect then shot him in the neck and chest. The round that struck him in the chest entered an area around his armpit not protected by his vest. The suspect then stole Corporal Pokorny's service weapon and fled the scene.
Several minutes later, a Carnegie police officer who happened to be driving by the scene, located Corporal Pokorny's body in a snowbank approximately 25-feet from his patrol car. A second handgun was found underneath Corporal Pokorny.
The suspect, who had been on parole for less than one month, was taken into custody later in the day and officially charged with Corporal Pokorny's murder two days later. On October 24th, 2007, he was sentenced to life in prison without parole.
Corporal Pokorny had served with the Pennsylvania State Police for 22-1/2 years, and was assigned to Troop B, Pittsburgh. He is survived by his son, daughter, and parents. His son graduated from the Pennsylvania State Police academy on March 15th, 2013.
Survivors
He is survived by his son, daughter, and parents.
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
BO-US-PA-C976A049- 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
22 years. You could have gone home.
Corporal Pokorny gave the Pennsylvania State Police 22 years. Still answering calls at the end.
Thank you for your service to the people of Pennsylvania. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Corporal Pokorny.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
Corporal Joseph Raymond Pokorny Jr. 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 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. Joseph Raymond Pokorny Jr.'s cause is highlighted.
How Joseph Raymond Pokorny Jr. Compares
When Felonious Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. Joseph Raymond Pokorny Jr. is highlighted in Dec.
Weapons Used Against Officers
Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. Joseph Raymond Pokorny Jr. was killed by officer's handgun.
Incident Location
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