Roll of Honor
Incident
Trooper Joshua Miller was shot and killed while attempting to apprehend a kidnapping suspect.
At 7:45 pm, members of the Nazareth Police Department responded to a report of a protection-from-abuse order violation involving a weapon. When they arrived, the suspect took a 9-year-old boy from his mother at gunpoint and fled the location in a vehicle, leading to a 40-mile vehicle pursuit.
The suspect's vehicle was stopped in Coolbaugh Township (Monroe County) when members of the Pennsylvania State Police utilized the PIT maneuver, causing the vehicle to crash. Following the crash, Trooper Miller and another trooper approached the car in an attempt to rescue the boy, but the suspect opened fire on the troopers striking Trooper Miller in the neck and leg and striking his partner in the arm. The troopers were able to return fire and killed the suspect.
While Trooper Miller and his partner were engaged in the gun battle, two other troopers were able to rescue the boy from the passenger seat of the suspect's vehicle and carry him to safety.
Trooper Miller was transported to a local hospital where he died from his wounds. His partner was also treated and recovered from his injury.
On July 12, 2007, Trooper Miller, along with other members of the Pennsylvania State Police, assisted members of the New York City Police Department in the capture of two of the men who killed Police Officer Russell Timoshenko and wounded his partner on July 9, 2007, during a vehicle stop in Brooklyn, New York. Trooper Miller was a United States Marine Corps veteran who had served with the Pennsylvania State Police, assigned to the Swiftwater State Police Barracks, for six years, and previously served with the Tunkhannock Police Department for four years.
On July 12, 2007, Trooper Miller, along with other members of the Pennsylvania State Police, assisted members of the New York City Police Department in the capture of two of the men who killed Police Officer Russell Timoshenko and wounded his partner on July 9, 2007, during a vehicle stop in Brooklyn, New York.
Trooper Miller was a United States Marine Corps veteran who had served with the Pennsylvania State Police, assigned to the Swiftwater State Police Barracks, for six years, and previously served with the Tunkhannock Police Department for four years.
Survivors
He is survived by his wife and three daughters.
In Our Keeping
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BO-US-PA-0EC9F6ED- Stewardship
- Maintained by NeuraWeb Global Inc.
- Added to badge.nw
- August 2, 2026
- Last updated
- August 2, 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.
Trooper Miller gave the Pennsylvania State Police 10 years.
Thank you for your service to the people of Pennsylvania. Thank you for your service before it. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, brother.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
Military Service
Joshua Daniel Miller served in the U.S. Marine Corps before joining law enforcement.
Trooper Joshua Daniel Miller is one of 1 officers killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty across the full record of this memorial — 0% of all 97,756 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 47.3 percentage points above the national rate of 0%.
At Pennsylvania State Police, 34 of 87 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 39.1% of this agency's fallen.
National Cause Distribution
How Felonious compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. Joshua Daniel Miller's cause is highlighted.
How Joshua Daniel Miller Compares
When Felonious Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. Joshua Daniel Miller is highlighted in Jun.
Weapons Used Against Officers
Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. Joshua Daniel Miller was killed by handgun; 9 mm.
Incident Location
Military Service
Joshua Daniel Miller served in the U.S. Marine Corps before joining law enforcement.
Visit Joshua Daniel Miller’s page on salute.nw →
His full service record — units, decorations, where he served — is kept on salute.nw.
Others Who Wore This Badge
86 officers from Pennsylvania State Police are honored on badge.nw. Showing the 16 most recent.
