Incident
Trooper Gregg Presbury succumbed to a gunshot wound sustained while conducting a traffic stop on Route 3, near the intersection with Route 100 in Glen Burnie, five days earlier. During the traffic stop, Trooper Presbury radioed for backup. Before backup arrived the suspect shot the trooper. Despite being wounded he was able to return fire and wounded the suspect. A passing motorist used the trooper's radio to report the shooting and was able to give a description of the suspect. The suspect, a paroled felon, was taken into custody and charged with Trooper Presbury's murder. The suspect was convicted of first degree murder and sentenced to life on October 19, 1978. His conviction was overturned and he was awarded a new trial. He was again convicted of first degree murder and sentenced to life plus 15 years on June 25, 1980. Trooper Presbury had served with the Maryland State Police for 17 months.
Survivors
He is survived by his wife and child.
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
neuraspine_01krbxtn8gnqsd08tys530v5qb- Stewardship
- Maintained by NeuraWeb Global Inc.
- Added to badge.nw
- August 2, 2026
- Last updated
- August 2, 2026
Honored here by 1 tribute.
Are you family? This record can be claimed and maintained by those who knew Gregg. Claim this record.
This page is permanent and free. No fee to view it, no advertising, no tracking, and no account required. It will not be taken down.
Tributes
You barely got started.
Trooper Presbury gave the Maryland State Police 1 year.
Thank you for your service to the people of Maryland. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Trooper Presbury.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
The Sacrifice · Felonious
Maryland State Police has lost 42 officers; 14 of them killed feloniously.
Gregg is one of 195 officers killed feloniously in MD, 51.6% of the 378 remembered there.
Gregg is one of 15,743 officers killed feloniously in the United States, 57.1% of the 27,551 remembered there.
Gregg is one of 17,631 officers killed feloniously worldwide, 51.7% of the 34,117 remembered here.
34,117 officers are remembered on this memorial. Each number below is one of them.
Time
In 1977, 1 officer at Maryland State Police was killed feloniously, the 3rd heaviest of 12 years on record. The heaviest was 1975, with 2.
In 1977, 2 officers in MD were killed feloniously, the 21st heaviest of 104 years on record. The heaviest was 2000, with 6.
In 1977, 128 officers in the United States were killed feloniously, the 36th heaviest of 213 years on record. The heaviest was 1921, with 248.
In 1977, 146 officers worldwide were killed feloniously, the 34th heaviest of 265 years on record. The heaviest was 1921, with 516.
Who
Gregg was 27. Of the 13 killed feloniously at Maryland State Police whose age is recorded, half were between 27 and 40; the middle age was 32. Gregg had served 1.4 years; the middle length of service was 5.5 years.
Gregg was 27. Of the 178 killed feloniously in MD whose age is recorded, half were between 28 and 43.8; the middle age was 35. Gregg had served 1.4 years; the middle length of service was 8 years.
Gregg was 27. 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. Gregg had served 1.4 years; the middle length of service was 6 years.
Gregg was 27. Of the 15,854 killed feloniously worldwide whose age is recorded, half were between 30 and 46; the middle age was 38. Gregg had served 1.4 years; the middle length of service was 6 years.
When
December holds 7.1% of these deaths at Maryland State Police; March holds the most, 21.4%. Saturdays: 7.1%.
December holds 9.2% of these deaths in MD; June holds the most, 11.8%. Saturdays: 16.4%.
December holds 9.4% of these deaths in the United States, more than any other month. Saturdays: 16.3%.
December holds 9.2% of these deaths worldwide, more than any other month. Saturdays: 16.2%.
How
Felonious deaths account for 33.3% of all 42 deaths at Maryland State Police, the 2nd most common cause. The weapon recorded was handgun, in 28.6% of these deaths.
Felonious deaths account for 51.6% of all 378 deaths in MD, the most common cause. The weapon recorded was handgun, in 26.7% of these deaths.
Felonious deaths account for 57.1% of all 27,551 deaths in the United States, the most common cause. The weapon recorded was handgun, in 23.4% of these deaths.
Felonious deaths account for 51.7% of all 34,117 deaths worldwide, the most common cause. The weapon recorded was handgun, in 20.9% of these deaths.
His people
Maryland State Police has 42 officers remembered here, Gregg among them.
-
John W. Jeffrey
Sep 1, 1921
-
William G. Lochner, Jr.
Apr 18, 1923
-
Raymond O. Eicholtz
May 27, 1923
-
Hugh K. Painter
Mar 31, 1924
-
Albert E. Cramblitt
Oct 1, 1925
-
James S. Noon
Dec 15, 1927
-
Clinton Richard Rhodes
Jan 28, 1931
-
Theodore Augustus Moore
Sep 25, 1932
-
Imla Doran Hubbard
Mar 4, 1933
-
Joseph E. Kuhn
Apr 8, 1934
-
Carroll C. Creeger
Dec 23, 1934
-
Wilbert V. Hunter
Feb 7, 1936
-
J. F. Leo Shaab
Jul 22, 1937
-
Ellsworth D. Dryden
Oct 7, 1938
-
Lauren M. Ridge
Jul 14, 1950
-
Leonard N. Brown
Jul 7, 1958
-
Arthur W. Plummer, Jr.
Apr 9, 1961
-
Thomas Asa Noyle
Oct 28, 1972
-
Phillip Lee Russ
Oct 28, 1972
-
Donald Eugene Parkerson, Jr.
Sep 18, 1973
-
Charles Straining Rathell
Sep 18, 1973
-
Milton Veasily Purnell, Jr.
May 29, 1975
-
Mart Hudson, Jr.
Jun 16, 1975
-
Wallace Johnson Mowbray
Aug 10, 1975
-
Gregg Alexander Presbury
Dec 17, 1977
-
William P. Mills, Jr.
Jun 8, 1979
-
Gary L. Wade
Jan 30, 1982
-
Gregory A. May
Jan 19, 1986
-
Carey S. Poetzman
Jan 19, 1986
-
John Edward Sawa
Mar 10, 1987
-
Larry Eugene Small
Mar 10, 1987
-
Eric Dwight Monk
Apr 9, 1988
-
Theodore Dennis Wolf, Sr.
Mar 29, 1990
-
Mark P. Groner
Oct 1, 1992
-
Edward Plank
Oct 17, 1995
-
Joseph Thomas Lanzi
Oct 28, 1995
-
Raymond Gerald Armstead, Jr.
Mar 25, 1998
-
Edward M. Toatley
Oct 30, 2000
-
Anthony Jones
May 9, 2004
-
Mickey Charles Lippy
Sep 28, 2008
-
Wesley Washington John Brown
Jun 11, 2010
-
Shaft Sidney Hunter
May 21, 2011
Where
Where the Name Is Cut
National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial · Panel 28-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.















