Roll of Honor
Incident
Corporal Paul Almer and Trooper Wayne Bilheimer were killed in a helicopter crash while searching for a body in the Susquehanna River in southern York County, Pennsylvania. Corporal Almer was piloting the aircraft when it struck high-voltage power lines at an altitude of approximately 90 feet. The helicopter crashed into approximately ten feet of water, with both officers trapped inside. Trooper Bilheimer succumbed to multiple trauma injuries and Corporal Almer drowned. Both officers were found still strapped into their harnesses. Corporal Almer had served with the Pennsylvania State Police for 14 years. He had previously served as a combat helicopter pilot with the United States Army during Vietnam War for 18 months.
Survivors
He was survived by his mother and fiancee.
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
BO-US-PA-7D2CF960- 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.
Corporal Almer gave the Pennsylvania State Police 14 years.
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
Paul I. Almer served in the the United States military before joining law enforcement.
Corporal Paul I. Almer is one of 10,094 officers lost to accidents in the line of duty across the full record of this memorial — 31% of all 32,585 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 Pennsylvania State Police, 42 of 87 officers on record were lost to accidents in the line of duty — 48.3% of this agency's fallen.
National Cause Distribution
How Accident compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. Paul I. Almer's cause is highlighted.
How Paul I. Almer Compares
When Accident Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Accident deaths across the full memorial record. Paul I. Almer is highlighted in Apr.
Incident Location
Military Service
Paul I. Almer served in the United States military before joining law enforcement.
Visit Paul I. Almer’s page on salute.nw →
His full service record — units, decorations, where he served — is kept on salute.nw.
Others Who Wore This Badge
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