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Incident
Trooper Larry Small and Trooper First Class John Sawa were killed when their patrol car was struck by a tractor-trailer driven by a drunk driver. The troopers were parked in the median of I-95, near the Maryland 155 interchange in Havre de Grace, when the semi ran off the road and struck the patrol car broadside. The driver of the tractor-trailer was arrested and charged with two counts of homicide with a motor vehicle and one count of drunk driving. Trooper Small was completing his last day of field training when the crash occurred. Trooper Small had served with the Maryland State Police for only eight months.
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- August 2, 2026
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- August 2, 2026
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Tributes
I never knew you. I am standing here anyway.
Trooper Small served with the Maryland State Police.
Thank you for your service to the people of Maryland. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Trooper Small.
— 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.
Larry is one of 195 officers killed feloniously in MD, 51.6% of the 378 remembered there.
Larry is one of 15,743 officers killed feloniously in the United States, 57.1% of the 27,551 remembered there.
Larry is one of 17,631 officers killed feloniously worldwide, 52% of the 33,917 remembered here.
33,917 officers are remembered on this memorial. Each number below is one of them.
Time
In 1987, 2 officers at Maryland State Police were killed feloniously, more than in any other year.
In 1987, 2 officers in MD were killed feloniously, the 21st heaviest of 104 years on record. The heaviest was 2000, with 6.
In 1987, 97 officers in the United States were killed feloniously, the 55th heaviest of 213 years on record. The heaviest was 1921, with 248.
In 1987, 117 officers worldwide were killed feloniously, the 50th heaviest of 265 years on record. The heaviest was 1921, with 516.
Who
Larry was 21. Of the 13 killed feloniously at Maryland State Police whose age is recorded, half were between 27 and 40; the middle age was 32. Larry had served 0.7 years; the middle length of service was 5.5 years.
Larry was 21. Of the 178 killed feloniously in MD whose age is recorded, half were between 28 and 43.8; the middle age was 35. Larry had served 0.7 years; the middle length of service was 8 years.
Larry was 21. 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. Larry had served 0.7 years; the middle length of service was 6 years.
Larry was 21. Of the 15,854 killed feloniously worldwide whose age is recorded, half were between 30 and 46; the middle age was 38. Larry had served 0.7 years; the middle length of service was 6 years.
When
March holds 21.4% of these deaths at Maryland State Police, more than any other month. Tuesdays: 21.4%.
March holds 7.2% of these deaths in MD; June holds the most, 11.8%. Tuesdays: 15.4%.
March holds 7.5% of these deaths in the United States; December holds the most, 9.4%. Tuesdays: 13.4%.
March holds 7.8% of these deaths worldwide; December holds the most, 9.2%. Tuesdays: 13.3%.
How
Felonious deaths account for 33.3% of all 42 deaths at Maryland State Police, the 2nd most common cause. The weapon recorded was automobile, 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 automobile, in 7.7% 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 automobile, in 4.9% of these deaths.
Felonious deaths account for 52% of all 33,917 deaths worldwide, the most common cause. The weapon recorded was automobile, in 4.4% of these deaths.
His people
Maryland State Police has 42 officers remembered here, Larry 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 63-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.
