Manuel Walker Trenary
Agency patch
Sergeant

Manuel Walker Trenary

Harrisonburg Police Department — Harrisonburg, VA
Felonious
End of Watch October 8, 1959
Age 51
Tour of Duty 26 yrs
The Vigil Panel 94 ›
Gender Male

Incident

Sergeant Manuel Trenary was shot and killed while investigating a burglary in progress at a diner on North Liberty Street. He was struck twice by .25 caliber bullets while exchanging gunfire with the suspect. No suspects were ever identified and his murder has never been solved. Sergeant Trenary had served with the Harrisonburg Police Department for 26 years. He was survived by his wife. In November 2013 a new section of the Erickson Avenue Connector was dedicated in his honor.

Survivors

He was survived by his wife.

In Our Keeping

Permanent identifier
BO-US-VA-9F111FD1
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

26 years. You could have gone home.
Sergeant Trenary gave the Harrisonburg Police Department 26 years. Still answering calls at the end.
Thank you for your service to the Harrisonburg community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Sergeant Trenary.

— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993

Agency

Type Police Department
Location Harrisonburg, VA
Platform Identity hpd.harrisonburg.va.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch October 8, 1959
Tour of Duty 26 yrs
Age 51
Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious
Weapon Handgun

Sergeant Manuel Walker Trenary 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 VA, 394 of 656 officers were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 60.1% of this state's fallen. That is 60.1 percentage points above the national rate of 0%.

Harrisonburg Police Department
1
of 1 officers
100% Felonious
VA — Statewide
394
of 656 officers
60.1% Felonious
Nationwide
1
of 97,772 officers
0% Felonious

National Cause Distribution

How Felonious compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. Manuel Walker Trenary's cause is highlighted.

Felonious
1 (0%)
Accident
1 (0%)
Illness
1 (0%)
Cardiac
1 (0%)
Undetermined
1 (0%)
Suicide
1 (0%)

How Manuel Walker Trenary Compares

Age at Death
51
This officer
Avg for Felonious: 39.0 years
Years of Service
26
This officer
Avg for Felonious: 8.4 years

When Felonious Deaths Occur

Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. Manuel Walker Trenary is highlighted in Oct.

Jan
1,392
Feb
1,295
Mar
1,373
Apr
1,516
May
1,504
Jun
1,442
Jul
1,587
Aug
1,517
Sep
1,491
Oct
1,371
Nov
1,447
Dec
1,624

Weapons Used Against Officers

Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. Manuel Walker Trenary was killed by handgun.

Handgun
3,684
Gun
3,592
Gun; Unknown type
1,492
Shotgun
1,109
Rifle
935
Officer's handgun
909

Others Who Wore This Badge

0 officers from Harrisonburg Police Department are honored on badge.nw.