Roll of Honor
Incident
Patrol Officer Barry Karper and Patrol Officer Joseph O'Shura 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 Karper was a U.S. Army veteran and served with the Harrisburg Police Bureau for six months.
Survivors
He was survived by both of his parents, sister, brother, and Maternal Grandmother.
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
BO-US-PA-47A2E95C- 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 Karper 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
Service Record
Incident Details
Military Service
Barry Penrose Karper served in the United States military before joining law enforcement. Full service record available on salute.nw.
Patrol Officer Barry Penrose Karper 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.
National Cause Distribution
How Accident compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. Barry Penrose Karper's cause is highlighted.
How Barry Penrose Karper Compares
Offender Outcome
Died at the scene
When Accident Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Accident deaths across the full memorial record. Barry Penrose Karper is highlighted in Jul.
Incident Location
Others Who Wore This Badge
6 officers from Harrisburg Police Bureau are honored on badge.nw.
