Roll of Honor
Incident
Chief of Police Charles McNany was killed in a traffic accident while performing a traffic stop with his partner along Route 8, near Two Mile Run. As his partner was talking to the driver about the violation a vehicle traveling at a high rate of speed struck the side of the police car pushing it into Chief McNany's partner and the vehicle that was stopped. Due to the impact of the accident the gasoline tank of the Police car exploded causing the vehicle to become engulfed in flames with Chief McNany trapped inside. The driver of the vehicle that caused the accident and of the stopped vehicle broke the windshield of the police car in an effort to save Chief of Police McNany but were unsuccessful. Chief of Police McNany's partner was taken to the hospital where he was treated for his injuries and released two weeks later. A Deputy Sheriff who was directing traffic at the scene after the accident was struck by a vehicle and later released from the hospital with minor injuries. The driver of the vehicle that caused the accident was charged two weeks later of reckless driving.
Survivors
Chief of Police McNany served with the Sugarcreek Borough Police Department for four years and was survived by his mother, wife, four daughters, son, and siblings.
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
BO-US-PA-2BC13702- 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 McNany gave the Sugarcreek Borough Police Department 4 years.
Thank you for your service to the Franklin community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Chief of Police McNany.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
Chief of Police Charles Elmer McNany 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 Sugarcreek Borough Police Department, 1 of 2 officers on record were lost to accidents in the line of duty — 50% of this agency's fallen.
National Cause Distribution
How Accident compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. Charles Elmer McNany's cause is highlighted.
How Charles Elmer McNany Compares
When Accident Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Accident deaths across the full memorial record. Charles Elmer McNany is highlighted in Jul.
Incident Location
Others Who Wore This Badge
1 officer from Sugarcreek Borough Police Department are honored on badge.nw.
