Marvin R. Foltz
Agency patch
Chief of Police

Marvin R. Foltz

Felonious
End of Watch April 7, 1967
Age 44
The Vigil Panel 102 ›
Gender Male

Incident

Chief Marvin Foltz was shot and killed during a bank robbery in Maytown, Pennsylvania. He had gone into the bank and ordered the robbers to put their hands up when he met a fusillade of gunfire. Though wounded, he staggered to the bank steps and emptied his gun at the fleeing robbers. Three men were arrested and charged with his murder. Two were slightly wounded by Chief Foltz's return fire. The suspect, 21, who shot Chief Foltz, and another, 36, were convicted of his murder and sentenced to life. One was sentenced on June 23, 1967 and the other on October 2, 1967. The other suspect, 41, was found not guilty by reason of insanity and sent to the Fairview Mental Hospital for the criminally insane. The suspect, 36, died in prison in March of 1984. The youngest suspect escaped from prison in 1973 and was recaptured in 1976. Chief Foltz was the only full-time employee of the three man department and the first chief.

Survivors

He is survived by his wife and daughter who had rushed to the scene from their house nearby.

In Our Keeping

Permanent identifier
BO-US-PA-0AA198D2
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 Foltz served with the East Donegal Township Police Department.
Thank you for your service to the Donegal community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Chief of Police Foltz.

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

Agency

Location Donegal, PA
Platform Identity edtpd.westmoreland.pa.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch April 7, 1967
Age 44
Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious
Weapon Handgun
Offender Sentenced to life

Chief of Police Marvin R. Foltz 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%.

East Donegal Township Police Department
1
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. Marvin R. Foltz'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 Marvin R. Foltz Compares

Age at End of Watch
44
This officer
Avg for Felonious: 39.0 years

Offender Outcome

Sentenced to life

When Felonious Deaths Occur

Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. Marvin R. Foltz is highlighted in Apr.

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. Marvin R. Foltz was killed by handgun.

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