Mark Israel Sensenbach

Lehigh County Sheriff's Office — Allentown, PA

Felonious

End of Watch September 8, 1926

Age 38

The Vigil Panel 51 ›

Gender Male

Incident Service The Sacrifice Department 4

Incident

Sheriff Mark Sensenbach and Deputy Harry Siegfried were shot and killed in Weisenberg Township while attempting to arrest a man for failing to pay a $2 fine for not sending his children to school. When the officers arrived at the farmhouse the man's wife told them he was not home but would not cooperate. As they began searching the property they observed the man walk into the woodline holding a gun. Sheriff Sensenbach called for assistance from the Allentown Police Department and several officers responded. As the Allentown officers arrived at the scene the man approached them and opened fire. Deputy Siegfried and Sheriff Sensenbach were killed and one of the Allentown officers was wounded during the initial shooting before the man barricaded himself in his home. The man was shot and killed by a posse as he attempted to flee into the woods after the posse set the house on fire. Sheriff Sensenbach was survived by his wife, son, and brother. He is buried in Union West End Cemetery.

Survivors

Sheriff Sensenbach was survived by his wife, son, and brother.

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 never knew you. I am standing here anyway.
Sheriff Sensenbach served with the Lehigh County Sheriff's Office.
Thank you for your service to the Allentown community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Sheriff Sensenbach.

— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993

Agency

Department Lehigh County Sheriff's Office

Location Allentown, PA

Platform Identity lcso.lehigh.pa.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch September 8, 1926

Age 38

Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious

Weapon Shotgun

Offender Shot and killed

Sheriff Mark Israel Sensenbach 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 Lehigh County Sheriff's Office, 3 of 5 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 60% of this agency's fallen.

Lehigh County Sheriff's Office

of 5 officers

60% Felonious

PA — Statewide

597

of 1,261 officers

47.3% Felonious

Nationwide

17,623

of 32,508 officers

54.2% Felonious