Joseph John Welsch

Pennsylvania State Police — Harrisburg, PA

Veteran → Felonious

End of Watch September 13, 1977

Age 26

Tour of Duty 4 yrs 7 mo

The Vigil Panel 119 ›

Gender Male

Incident Service The Sacrifice Military Department 86

Incident

Trooper Joseph Welsch was shot and killed and a Pennsylvania State Constable was wounded when they attempted to serve a warrant on a man in Tioga County. As they approached the suspect at his home to arrest him, the suspect drew a gun and shot both officers. The 29-year-old suspect was convicted of first degree murder and sentenced to life on March 15, 1978. In 2021 he was in Mahanoy Prison. Trooper Welsch had served in the Pennsylvania National Guard and had been with the Pennsylvania State Police for almost five years.

Survivors

He was survived by his wife.

In Our Keeping

Permanent identifier: BO-US-PA-F9F35CA4
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.
Trooper Welsch gave the Pennsylvania State Police 4 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

Department Pennsylvania State Police

Type State Police

Location Harrisburg, PA

Platform Identity pasp.pa.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch September 13, 1977

Tour of Duty 4 yrs 7 mo

Age 26

Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious

Weapon Handgun

Military Service

Joseph John Welsch served in the the United States military before joining law enforcement.

View full service record on salute.nw →

Trooper Joseph John Welsch is one of 1 officers killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty across the full record of this memorial — 0% of all 97,756 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 47.3 percentage points above the national rate of 0%.

At Pennsylvania State Police, 34 of 87 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 39.1% of this agency's fallen.

Pennsylvania State Police

of 87 officers

39.1% Felonious

PA — Statewide

597

of 1,261 officers

47.3% Felonious

Nationwide

of 97,756 officers

0% Felonious