Roll of Honor
Incident
Private Francis Zehringer and Private John Henry were shot and killed while attempting to apprehend fugitives barricaded in a house in Jefferson County. Private Henry was called to the home after reinforcements were requested. Upon arrival he immediately advanced on the house but was shot when he got within 20-feet of the home. More reinforcements were called in approximately two hours later and another attempt was made to gain entry to the home. In this attempt Private Zehringer was shot and killed and two other officers were seriously wounded. During the night, under the cover of darkness and rain, officers approached the house and planted dynamite around it. At dawn they detonated the dynamite, destroying the house and killing all of the fugitives inside. Private Zehringer was a U.S Army veteran of the Spanish-American war and had served with the Pennsylvania State Police for eight months. He was assigned to Troop D, Punxsutawney, present-day Troop C, Punxsutawney.
Survivors
He was survived by his father and is buried at Riverside Cemetery in Norristown, Pennsylvania.
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
BO-US-PA-2949ECC6- 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.
Private Zehringer served with the Pennsylvania State Police.
Thank you for your service to the people of Pennsylvania, and 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
Francis A. Zehringer served in the United States military before joining law enforcement. Full service record available on salute.nw.
Private Francis A. Zehringer 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%.
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. Francis A. Zehringer's cause is highlighted.
How Francis A. Zehringer Compares
Offender Outcome
Killed
When Felonious Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. Francis A. Zehringer is highlighted in Sep.
Weapons Used Against Officers
Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. Francis A. Zehringer was killed by shotgun.
Incident Location
Others Who Wore This Badge
86 officers from Pennsylvania State Police are honored on badge.nw. Showing the 16 most recent.
