Larry Eugene Small
Agency patch
Trooper

Larry Eugene Small

Maryland State Police — Pikesville, MD
Felonious
End of Watch March 10, 1987
Age 21
Tour of Duty 8 mo
The Vigil Panel 131 ›
Gender Male

Incident

Trooper Larry Small and Trooper First Class John Sawa were killed when their patrol car was struck by a tractor-trailer driven by a drunk driver. The troopers were parked in the median of I-95, near the Maryland 155 interchange in Havre de Grace, when the semi ran off the road and struck the patrol car broadside. The driver of the tractor-trailer was arrested and charged with two counts of homicide with a motor vehicle and one count of drunk driving. Trooper Small was completing his last day of field training when the crash occurred. Trooper Small had served with the Maryland State Police for only eight months.

In Our Keeping

Permanent identifier
BO-US-MD-A06EC01E
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.

Are you family? This record can be claimed and maintained by those who knew Larry. Claim this record.

This page is permanent and free. No fee to view it, no advertising, no tracking, and no account required. It will not be taken down.

Tributes

I never knew you. I am standing here anyway.
Trooper Small served with the Maryland State Police.
Thank you for your service to the people of Maryland. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Trooper Small.

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

Agency

Location Pikesville, MD
Platform Identity msp.md.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch March 10, 1987
Tour of Duty 8 mo
Age 21
Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious
Weapon Automobile; Commercial
Offender Arrested

Trooper Larry Eugene Small 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 MD, 195 of 377 officers were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 51.7% of this state's fallen. That is 2.5 percentage points below the national rate of 54.2%.

At Maryland State Police, 14 of 42 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 33.3% of this agency's fallen.

Maryland State Police
14
of 42 officers
33.3% Felonious
MD — Statewide
195
of 377 officers
51.7% 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. Larry Eugene Small'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 Larry Eugene Small Compares

Age at End of Watch
21
This officer
Avg for Felonious: 39.0 years
Years of Service
0.7
This officer
Avg for Felonious: 8.5 years

Offender Outcome

Arrested

When Felonious Deaths Occur

Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. Larry Eugene Small is highlighted in Mar.

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. Larry Eugene Small was killed by automobile; commercial.

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

Incident Location