Thomas E. Lawry
Agency patch
Corporal

Thomas E. Lawry

Felonious Veteran
End of Watch January 31, 1930
Age 24
Tour of Duty 3 yrs 4 mo
The Vigil Panel 59 ›
Gender Male

Incident

Corporal Lawry was killed when a reckless driver who was driving on the wrong side of the road struck his patrol motorcycle. The suspect was arrested and charged with involuntary manslaughter.

Survivors

Corporal Lawry was a veteran of the Pennsylvania National Guard and had served with the Pennsylvania State Highway Patrol for six and a half years and was survived by his mother.

In Our Keeping

Permanent identifier
BO-US-PA-D14A6E03
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 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.
Corporal Lawry gave the Pennsylvania State Highway Patrol 3 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

Location Harrisburg, PA
Platform Identity pshp.pa.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch January 31, 1930
Tour of Duty 3 yrs 4 mo
Age 24
Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious
Weapon Automobile
Offender Charged with involuntary manslaughter

Military Service

Thomas E. Lawry served in the United States military before joining law enforcement. Full service record available on salute.nw.

Corporal Thomas E. Lawry 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 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 6.9 percentage points below the national rate of 54.2%.

At Pennsylvania State Highway Patrol, 8 of 18 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 44.4% of this agency's fallen.

Pennsylvania State Highway Patrol
8
of 18 officers
44.4% Felonious
PA — Statewide
597
of 1,261 officers
47.3% Felonious
Nationwide
17,623
of 32,508 officers
54.2% Felonious

National Cause Distribution

How Felonious compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. Thomas E. Lawry's cause is highlighted.

Felonious
17,623 (54.2%)
Accident
10,088 (31%)
Illness
2,974 (9.1%)
Cardiac
1,306 (4%)
Undetermined
260 (0.8%)
Suicide
256 (0.8%)
vehicular
1 (0%)

How Thomas E. Lawry Compares

Age at End of Watch
24
This officer
Avg for Felonious: 39.0 years
Years of Service
3.3
This officer
Avg for Felonious: 8.5 years

Offender Outcome

Charged with involuntary manslaughter

When Felonious Deaths Occur

Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. Thomas E. Lawry is highlighted in Jan.

Jan
1,392
Feb
1,295
Mar
1,373
Apr
1,517
May
1,505
Jun
1,443
Jul
1,587
Aug
1,516
Sep
1,553
Oct
1,371
Nov
1,447
Dec
1,624

Weapons Used Against Officers

Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. Thomas E. Lawry was killed by automobile.

Gun; Unknown type
5,083
Handgun
2,077
Shotgun
922
Officer's handgun
909
Automobile; Alcohol involved
530
Rifle
518

Incident Location