Roll of Honor

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Chief of Police

George Rae

West Newton Borough Police Department — West Newton, PA

Felonious

End of Watch September 16, 1924

Age 34

Tour of Duty 2 yrs

The Vigil Panel 47 ›

Gender Male

Incident Service The Sacrifice

Incident

Chief George Rae was shot and killed by a man he admonished along with other people at a street party for disturbing the peace. The suspect was captured a week later in Welch, West Virginia. He was convicted of first degree murder and executed in the electric chair on January 19, 1925.

Survivors

He had served with the agency for 2 years and was survived by his wife, Margaret, and his daughter, Robina.

In Our Keeping

Permanent identifier: BO-US-PA-00DF1B64
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 never knew you. I am standing here anyway.
Chief of Police Rae gave the West Newton Borough Police Department 2 years.
Thank you for your service to the West Newton community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Chief of Police Rae.

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

Agency

Department West Newton Borough Police Department

Location West Newton, PA

Platform Identity wnbpd.westmoreland.pa.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch September 16, 1924

Tour of Duty 2 yrs

Age 34

Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious

Weapon Handgun; .38 caliber

Offender Executed in 1925

Chief of Police George Rae 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%.

West Newton Borough Police Department

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. George Rae'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 George Rae Compares

Age at End of Watch

This officer

Avg for Felonious: 39.0 years

Years of Service

This officer

Avg for Felonious: 8.5 years

Offender Outcome

Executed in 1925

When Felonious Deaths Occur

Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. George Rae is highlighted in Sep.

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. George Rae was killed by handgun; .38 caliber.

Gun; Unknown type

5,083

Handgun

2,077

Shotgun

922

Officer's handgun

909

Automobile; Alcohol involved

530

Rifle

518