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Incident
Trooper Carey Poetzman and Corporal Gregory May were killed in a helicopter accident while responding to a medical transport request. The officers had been dispatched from the Frederick Airport in Frederick County to Carroll County to transport a gunshot victim. Their helicopter encountered Instrument Meteorological Conditions and crashed in a heavily wooded area of Leakin Park in Baltimore City. The crash caused the Maryland State Police to look for a more powerful and safer aircraft. Trooper Poetzman had served with the agency for 6 years.
Survivors
She was survived by her husband.
In Our Keeping
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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.
Trooper Poetzman gave the Maryland State Police 6 years.
Thank you for your service to the people of Maryland. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Trooper Poetzman.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
The Sacrifice · Accident
Maryland State Police has lost 42 officers; 28 of them lost to accidents.
Carey is one of 141 officers lost to accidents in MD, 37.3% of the 378 remembered there.
Carey is one of 8,275 officers lost to accidents in the United States, 30% of the 27,551 remembered there.
Carey is one of 10,100 officers lost to accidents worldwide, 29.8% of the 33,917 remembered here.
33,917 officers are remembered on this memorial. Each number below is one of them.
Time
In 1986, 2 officers at Maryland State Police were lost to accidents, more than in any other year.
In 1986, 4 officers in MD were lost to accidents, the 2nd heaviest of 88 years on record. The heaviest was 1925, with 6.
In 1986, 82 officers in the United States were lost to accidents, the 23rd heaviest of 174 years on record. The heaviest was 1929, with 118.
In 1986, 93 officers worldwide were lost to accidents, the 31st heaviest of 200 years on record. The heaviest was 1930, with 131.
Who
Carey was 28. Of the 28 lost to accidents at Maryland State Police whose age is recorded, half were between 25 and 30.3; the middle age was 27. Carey had served 6 years; the middle length of service was 3 years.
Carey was 28. Of the 133 lost to accidents in MD whose age is recorded, half were between 27 and 42; the middle age was 33. Carey had served 6 years; the middle length of service was 6 years.
Carey was 28. Of the 7,718 lost to accidents in the United States whose age is recorded, half were between 29 and 46; the middle age was 36. Carey had served 6 years; the middle length of service was 6 years.
Carey was 28. Of the 9,451 lost to accidents worldwide whose age is recorded, half were between 29 and 45; the middle age was 36. Carey had served 6 years; the middle length of service was 6 years.
When
January holds 10.7% of these deaths at Maryland State Police; October holds the most, 21.4%. Sundays: 28.6%.
January holds 12.8% of these deaths in MD; October holds the most, 15.6%. Sundays: 17.7%.
January holds 7.7% of these deaths in the United States; August holds the most, 9.5%. Sundays: 14%.
January holds 8.1% of these deaths worldwide; August holds the most, 9.3%. Sundays: 14%.
How
Accident deaths account for 66.7% of all 42 deaths at Maryland State Police, the most common cause.
Accident deaths account for 37.3% of all 378 deaths in MD, the 2nd most common cause.
Accident deaths account for 30% of all 27,551 deaths in the United States, the 2nd most common cause.
Accident deaths account for 29.8% of all 33,917 deaths worldwide, the 2nd most common cause.
Her people
Maryland State Police has 42 officers remembered here, Carey among them.
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John W. Jeffrey
Sep 1, 1921
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William G. Lochner, Jr.
Apr 18, 1923
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Raymond O. Eicholtz
May 27, 1923
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Hugh K. Painter
Mar 31, 1924
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Albert E. Cramblitt
Oct 1, 1925
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James S. Noon
Dec 15, 1927
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Clinton Richard Rhodes
Jan 28, 1931
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Theodore Augustus Moore
Sep 25, 1932
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Imla Doran Hubbard
Mar 4, 1933
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Joseph E. Kuhn
Apr 8, 1934
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Carroll C. Creeger
Dec 23, 1934
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Wilbert V. Hunter
Feb 7, 1936
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J. F. Leo Shaab
Jul 22, 1937
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Ellsworth D. Dryden
Oct 7, 1938
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Lauren M. Ridge
Jul 14, 1950
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Leonard N. Brown
Jul 7, 1958
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Arthur W. Plummer, Jr.
Apr 9, 1961
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Thomas Asa Noyle
Oct 28, 1972
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Phillip Lee Russ
Oct 28, 1972
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Donald Eugene Parkerson, Jr.
Sep 18, 1973
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Charles Straining Rathell
Sep 18, 1973
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Milton Veasily Purnell, Jr.
May 29, 1975
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Mart Hudson, Jr.
Jun 16, 1975
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Wallace Johnson Mowbray
Aug 10, 1975
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Gregg Alexander Presbury
Dec 17, 1977
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William P. Mills, Jr.
Jun 8, 1979
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Gary L. Wade
Jan 30, 1982
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Gregory A. May
Jan 19, 1986
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Carey S. Poetzman
Jan 19, 1986
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John Edward Sawa
Mar 10, 1987
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Larry Eugene Small
Mar 10, 1987
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Eric Dwight Monk
Apr 9, 1988
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Theodore Dennis Wolf, Sr.
Mar 29, 1990
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Mark P. Groner
Oct 1, 1992
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Edward Plank
Oct 17, 1995
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Joseph Thomas Lanzi
Oct 28, 1995
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Raymond Gerald Armstead, Jr.
Mar 25, 1998
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Edward M. Toatley
Oct 30, 2000
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Anthony Jones
May 9, 2004
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Mickey Charles Lippy
Sep 28, 2008
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Wesley Washington John Brown
Jun 11, 2010
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Shaft Sidney Hunter
May 21, 2011
Where
Where the Name Is Cut
National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial · Panel 19-E
What is kept
Photographs, film, sound and papers — what survived a life.
Others Who Wore This Badge
41 officers from Maryland State Police are honored on badge.nw. Showing the 16 most recent.
