Roll of Honor
Charles Elmer McConaughy
Incident
Chief of Police Charles McConaughy succumbed to a gunshot wound sustained the previous day while he and two other officers attempted to arrest a man who had shot at another citizen earlier in the afternoon.
Chief McConaughy, along with another borough officer and a Pennsylvania Railroad police officer, had gone to the man's home near the corner of North Jefferson Street and Grant Street to arrest him. As they placed handcuffs on him he suddenly pulled away, drew a .32 caliber revolver from his waistband, and opened fire, striking Chief McConaughy and the other borough officer. The railroad police officer began struggling with him and was shot once in the arm before Chief McConaughy was able to prop himself up and fatally shot the subject.
All three officers were taken to J.C. Blair Memorial Hospital where Chief McConaughy succumbed to his wounds the following day.
Chief McConaughy had served in law enforcement for 12 years as a police officer and constable in Mount Union Borough.
Survivors
He was survived by his wife, two children, and two sisters.
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
BO-US-PA-DAE7CE1E- 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 McConaughy gave the Mount Union Borough Police Department 12 years.
Thank you for your service to the Mount Union community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Chief of Police McConaughy.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
Chief of Police Charles Elmer McConaughy 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 Mount Union Borough Police Department, 2 of 2 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. Charles Elmer McConaughy's cause is highlighted.
How Charles Elmer McConaughy Compares
Offender Outcome
Shot and killed
When Felonious Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. Charles Elmer McConaughy is highlighted in Jul.
Weapons Used Against Officers
Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. Charles Elmer McConaughy was killed by handgun; .32 caliber.
Incident Location
Others Who Wore This Badge
1 officer from Mount Union Borough Police Department are honored on badge.nw.
