Roll of Honor

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Warden

Thomas E. McCrea

Erie County Department of Corrections — Erie, PA

Felonious

End of Watch November 19, 1896

Age 48

The Vigil Panel 14 ›

Gender Male

Incident Service The Sacrifice

Incident

Warden Thomas McCrea was killed when a prisoner he was transporting to prison by train attacked him and pulled him from the moving train approximately 11 miles outside of Pittsburgh.

Warden McCrea and a deputy were transporting several prisoners from the Erie County Jail to the Western Penitentiary, in Pittsburgh, when one of the prisoners was able to slip from his handcuffs. Warden McCrea attempted to restrain the prisoner, but when the prisoner jumped from the moving train, he grabbed a hold of Warden McCrea and pulled him from the train car. The inmate landed on top of Warden McCrea, killing him.

The inmate was seriously injured from the fall and was unable to escape. He was taken back into custody without any incident and later charged with murder.

Warden McCrea was survived by his wife.

Survivors

Warden McCrea was survived by his wife.

In Our Keeping

Permanent identifier: BO-US-PA-B8758A59
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

130 years is a long time for a name to go unread. Not today.
Warden McCrea served with the Erie County Department of Corrections.
Thank you for your service to the people of Pennsylvania. Gone but never to be forgotten.

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

Agency

Department Erie County Department of Corrections

Location Erie, PA

Platform Identity ecdcorr.erie.pa.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch November 19, 1896

Age 48

Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious

Cause Detail Assault

Weapon Person

Offender Charged with murder

Warden Thomas E. McCrea 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%.

Erie County Department of Corrections

of 1 officers

100% 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. McCrea'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. McCrea Compares

Age at End of Watch

This officer

Avg for Felonious: 39.0 years

Offender Outcome

Charged with murder

When Felonious Deaths Occur

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

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. McCrea was killed by person.

Gun; Unknown type

5,083

Handgun

2,077

Shotgun

922

Officer's handgun

909

Automobile; Alcohol involved

530

Rifle

518