Gary Richard Rosenberger
Agency patch
Trooper

Gary Richard Rosenberger

Pennsylvania State Police — Harrisburg, PA
Felonious
End of Watch December 12, 1970
Age 26
Tour of Duty 1 yrs 7 mo
Gender Male

Incident

Trooper Gary Rosenberger was shot nine times and killed while performing an undercover narcotics investigation. His body was found in a stream in Old Lycoming Township. One suspect was arrested and charged with his murder. The 19 year old suspect was convicted of first degree murder and sentenced to life in prison May 5, 1972. On January 1, 1978, he was attacked and stabbed 15 times by two inmates at Western Penitentiary. He died from his wounds April 18, 1978. Trooper Rosenberger had served with the Pennsylvania State Police for almost two years. He is survived by his wife, Molly, and infant daughter, Nicole. He is buried in Paxtang Memorial Cemetery.

Survivors

He is survived by his wife, Molly, and infant daughter, Nicole.

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

You barely got started.
Trooper Rosenberger gave the Pennsylvania State Police 1 year.
Thank you for your service to the people of Pennsylvania. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Trooper Rosenberger.

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

Agency

Type State Police
Location Harrisburg, Dauphin County, PA
Platform Identity pasp.pa.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch December 12, 1970
Tour of Duty 1 yrs 7 mo
Age 26
Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious
Weapon Gun

The Sacrifice · Felonious

Gary is one of 15,742 officers killed feloniously in the United States, 57.1% of the 27,551 remembered there.

34,102 officers are remembered on this memorial. Each number below is one of them.

  1. See the roll
  2. See the roll
Compare against
I

Time

In 1970, 138 officers in the United States were killed feloniously, the 29th heaviest of 213 years on record. The heaviest was 1921, with 248.

Every year on record · United States
II

Who

Gary was 26. Of the 14,219 killed feloniously in the United States whose age is recorded, half were between 31 and 47; the middle age was 38. Gary had served 1.6 years; the middle length of service was 6 years.

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

When

December holds 9.4% of these deaths in the United States, more than any other month. Saturdays: 16.3%.

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 gun, in 22.8% of these deaths.

Every cause
Weapons recorded
V

His people

Pennsylvania State Police has 87 officers remembered here, Gary among them.

Across the years
VI

Where

Trooper Gary Richard Rosenberger

Pennsylvania State Police · End of Watch December 12, 1970

Where the Name Is Cut

National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial · Panel 11-E

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