Patrolman

Thomas Barnett Elder

Felonious
End of Watch March 22, 1931
Age 28
Tour of Duty 2 yrs 1 mo
The Vigil Panel 61 ›
Gender Male

Incident

Patrolman Thomas Elder was injured while on patrol on Route 119, near the Scottdale Road, Connellsville, Fayette County. Patrolman Elder was struck by a drunk driver. He was thrown from his motorcycle, and suffered serious injuries. He was taken to the Hospital and died of his injuries and complications on March 22, 1931, over a year after the incident.

Survivors

Patrolman Elder had been with the agency for two years and was survived by his mother.

In Our Keeping

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Stewardship
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August 2, 2026
Last updated
August 2, 2026

Honored here by 1 tribute.

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Tributes

I never knew you. I am standing here anyway.
Patrolman Elder gave the Pennsylvania State Highway Patrol 2 years.
Thank you for your service to the people of Pennsylvania. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Patrolman Elder.

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

Agency

Type Highway Patrol
Location Harrisburg, Dauphin County, PA
Platform Identity pshp.pa.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch March 22, 1931
Tour of Duty 2 yrs 1 mo
Age 28
Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious
Weapon Automobile

The Sacrifice · Felonious

Thomas is one of 15,743 officers killed feloniously in the United States, 57.1% of the 27,551 remembered there.

34,117 officers are remembered on this memorial. Each number below is one of them.

  1. See the roll
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Compare against
I

Time

In 1931, 221 officers in the United States were killed feloniously, the 5th heaviest of 213 years on record. The heaviest was 1921, with 248.

Every year on record · United States
II

Who

Thomas was 28. Of the 14,220 killed feloniously in the United States whose age is recorded, half were between 31 and 47; the middle age was 38. Thomas had served 2.1 years; the middle length of service was 6 years.

Age at death
Where he stood among them
Age by years of service
III

When

March holds 7.5% of these deaths in the United States; December holds the most, 9.4%. Sundays: 15.2%.

By month
By day of the week
IV

How

Felonious deaths account for 57.1% of all 27,551 deaths in the United States, the most common cause. The weapon recorded was automobile, in 4.9% of these deaths.

Every cause
Weapons recorded
V

His people

Pennsylvania State Highway Patrol has 18 officers remembered here, Thomas among them.

VI

Where

Patrolman Thomas Barnett Elder

Pennsylvania State Highway Patrol · End of Watch March 22, 1931

Where the Name Is Cut

National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial · Panel 30-W

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