Roll of Honor
Lewis O. Knapp
Incident
Police Officer Lewis Knapp was shot and killed while attempting to question two subjects with another officer who had brought moonshine on the property of the Vesta Coal Company near Brownsville.
Police Officer Paul Fox and Officer Knapp had witnessed the two men carrying a five-gallon can of moonshine from a vehicle in an attempt to sell it on the property. They approached the subjects as they entered the coal company's property. Both men shot at the officers, striking Officer Knapp in the head, killing him, and striking Officer Fox in the shoulder, arm, and back as he lay on the ground. Both subjects fled the area through a railway. A posse was quickly organized after the shooting but failed to capture the men.
Officer Fox was rushed to a hospital in Brownsville, where he fell unconscious after giving the license plate number of the vehicle that dropped off both subjects to investigators. The license number quickly led to the arrest of one suspect, age 31. He was convicted of one count of murder and sentenced to life. He applied for a commutation of his sentence on November 26, 1942, after his attorney convinced Governor Arthur H. James that he shot at the officers, but it was the other suspect that killed them both. He was released a few weeks later.
The second suspect, age 31, was arrested in New York in September of 1927 for assaulting a man during a card game. He was convicted of assault and sentenced to one year in West Chester Penitentiary under a false name. After serving 58 days, he escaped. A few days later, he was shot and seriously wounded by police in Elizabeth, New Jersey, when he opened fire on them as they attempted to take him into custody. While in the hospital, he took a turn for the worse and asked to see the police when he thought he was going to die. He told officials his real name and confessed that he shot and killed Officer Fox and Officer Knapp. He recovered, was returned to Washington County, convicted of two counts of murder, and sentenced to death. He was executed in the electric chair on January 14, 1929.
Officer Knapp was a United States Army WWI veteran and served with the Pennsylvania Coal and Iron Police for two years.
Survivors
He was survived by his wife and one child.
In Our Keeping
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- 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.
Police Officer Knapp gave the Pennsylvania Coal and Iron Police Department 2 years.
Thank you for your service to the Reading community. Thank you 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
Lewis O. Knapp served in the United States military before joining law enforcement. Full service record available on salute.nw.
Police Officer Lewis O. Knapp 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 Coal and Iron Police Department, 4 of 4 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 100% of this agency's fallen.
National Cause Distribution
How Felonious compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. Lewis O. Knapp's cause is highlighted.
How Lewis O. Knapp Compares
Offender Outcome
Executed in 1929
When Felonious Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. Lewis O. Knapp is highlighted in Feb.
Weapons Used Against Officers
Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. Lewis O. Knapp was killed by handgun.
Incident Location
Others Who Wore This Badge
3 officers from Pennsylvania Coal and Iron Police Department are honored on badge.nw.
