Joseph John O'Shura

Harrisburg Police Bureau — Harrisburg, PA

Accident Veteran

End of Watch July 20, 1963

Age 22

Tour of Duty 2 mo

The Vigil Panel 98 ›

Gender Male

Incident Service The Sacrifice Department 6

Incident

Patrol Officers Joseph O'Shura and Barry Karper were killed in an automobile crash at the end of a three-mile-long pursuit while chasing a stolen vehicle shortly after 1:30 am. Both officers spotted a vehicle that was reported stolen a week earlier in the area of Market Street and immediately gave chase. As both officers were following behind the stolen vehicle, the driver hit his brakes at a high rate of speed while attempting to make a right turn onto Division Street, losing control of the vehicle and striking a group of trees. Officer O'Shura, who was driving, swerved left to avoid striking the auto and struck the same group of trees. The driver of the stolen vehicle and both officers were pronounced dead at the scene. Officer O'Shura was a U.S. Army veteran and served with the Harrisburg Police Bureau for two months. He was survived by both of his parents and brother. His brother also served with the Harrisburg Police Bureau.

Survivors

He was survived by both of his parents and brother.

In Our Keeping

Permanent identifier: BO-US-PA-169319BB
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 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.
Patrol Officer O'Shura served with the Harrisburg Police Bureau.
Thank you for your service to the Harrisburg community, and for your service before it. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, brother.

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

Agency

Department Harrisburg Police Bureau

Location Harrisburg, PA

Platform Identity hpbpd.dauphin.pa.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch July 20, 1963

Tour of Duty 2 mo

Age 22

Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Accident

Weapon Automobile

Offender Died at the scene

Military Service

Joseph John O'Shura served in the United States military before joining law enforcement. Full service record available on salute.nw.

Patrol Officer Joseph John O'Shura is one of 10,088 officers lost to accidents in the line of duty across the full record of this memorial — 31% of all 32,508 officers honored here.

In PA, 417 of 1,261 officers were lost to accidents in the line of duty — 33.1% of this state's fallen. That is 2.1 percentage points above the national rate of 31%.

At Harrisburg Police Bureau, 4 of 7 officers on record were lost to accidents in the line of duty — 57.1% of this agency's fallen.

Harrisburg Police Bureau

of 7 officers

57.1% Accident

PA — Statewide

417

of 1,261 officers

33.1% Accident

Nationwide

10,088

of 32,508 officers

31% Accident