Incident
Trooper Ellen Engelhardt succumbed to injuries sustained eight years earlier when her patrol car was struck by a drunk driver on Route 25 in Wareham.
Trooper Engelhardt was parked on the shoulder of the road when the drunk driver struck the rear or her vehicle at nearly 90 mph. Her injuries left her in a vegetative state and she was unable to speak or communicate.
The driver was sentenced to 2.5 years in prison for drunk driving after the initial accident. In September 2011 he was charged with vehicular homicide as a result of Trooper Engelhardt's death. In January 2014 he was convicted of vehicular homicide and sentenced to three years probation.
Trooper Engelhardt had served with the Massachusetts State Police for 23 years.
Survivors
She is survived by her daughter.
In Our Keeping
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- Maintained by NeuraWeb Global Inc.
- Added to badge.nw
- August 2, 2026
- Last updated
- August 2, 2026
Honored here by 1 tribute.
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Tributes
23 years. You could have gone home.
Trooper Engelhardt gave the Massachusetts State Police 23 years. Still answering calls at the end.
Thank you for your service to the people of Massachusetts. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Trooper Engelhardt.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
The Sacrifice · Felonious
Massachusetts State Police has lost 38 officers; 7 of them killed feloniously.
Ellen is one of 199 officers killed feloniously in MA, 42.4% of the 469 remembered there.
Ellen is one of 15,743 officers killed feloniously in the United States, 57.1% of the 27,551 remembered there.
Ellen 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 2011, 1 officer at Massachusetts State Police was killed feloniously, more than in any other year.
In 2011, 1 officer in MA was killed feloniously, the 51st heaviest of 107 years on record. The heaviest was 1908, with 6.
In 2011, 88 officers in the United States were killed feloniously, the 71st heaviest of 213 years on record. The heaviest was 1921, with 248.
In 2011, 92 officers worldwide were killed feloniously, the 69th heaviest of 265 years on record. The heaviest was 1921, with 516.
Who
Ellen was 58. Of the 7 killed feloniously at Massachusetts State Police whose age is recorded, half were between 34 and 48; the middle age was 36. Ellen had served 23 years; the middle length of service was 9 years.
Ellen was 58. Of the 195 killed feloniously in MA whose age is recorded, half were between 34 and 52.5; the middle age was 42. Ellen had served 23 years; the middle length of service was 11 years.
Ellen was 58. 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. Ellen had served 23 years; the middle length of service was 6 years.
Ellen was 58. Of the 15,854 killed feloniously worldwide whose age is recorded, half were between 30 and 46; the middle age was 38. Ellen had served 23 years; the middle length of service was 6 years.
When
June holds 28.6% of these deaths at Massachusetts State Police, more than any other month. Wednesdays: 42.9%.
June holds 8% of these deaths in MA; October holds the most, 10.6%. Wednesdays: 14.6%.
June holds 8.1% of these deaths in the United States; December holds the most, 9.4%. Wednesdays: 12.9%.
June holds 8.2% of these deaths worldwide; December holds the most, 9.2%. Wednesdays: 13.2%.
How
Felonious deaths account for 18.4% of all 38 deaths at Massachusetts State Police, the 2nd most common cause. The weapon recorded was automobile; alcohol involved, in 28.6% of these deaths.
Felonious deaths account for 42.4% of all 469 deaths in MA, the most common cause. The weapon recorded was automobile; alcohol involved, in 3% 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; alcohol involved, in 1% of these deaths.
Felonious deaths account for 52% of all 33,917 deaths worldwide, the most common cause. The weapon recorded was automobile; alcohol involved, in 0.9% of these deaths.
Her people
Massachusetts State Police has 38 officers remembered here, Ellen among them.
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Llewellyn A. Lowther
Sep 20, 1924
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George L. Prentiss
Oct 1, 1927
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John E. Higgins
Apr 14, 1928
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Charles A. Better
Sep 28, 1930
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Charles F. McGonagle
Aug 2, 1932
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Earl W. Tobin
Mar 30, 1934
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Joseph W. Kelly
Jul 23, 1938
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Albert T. Hayes
Feb 9, 1940
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Charles J. Collins
May 20, 1942
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Alfred A. Hewett
Jan 4, 1950
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Daniel Furtado
Oct 8, 1950
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Alje M. Savela
Aug 31, 1951
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Wallace E. Mathews
Apr 23, 1953
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James H. Marshall
Oct 21, 1960
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Robert J. MacDougall
Aug 6, 1971
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Edward A. Mahoney
Nov 21, 1976
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Perley Kenneth Johnson Jr.
Feb 13, 1978
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Donald E. Shea
Dec 16, 1978
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George L. Hanna
Feb 26, 1983
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Joseph Francis Moynihan, Jr.
Jun 19, 1990
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Davidson Gould Whiting
Aug 18, 1994
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Mark S. Charbonnier
Sep 2, 1994
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James Mattaliano
Feb 22, 1995
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Paul Andrew Perry
Feb 22, 1995
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James Brian Malloy
Jan 23, 1997
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Drew C. Chandler
Jul 21, 2000
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Vincent P. Cila
Jul 22, 2005
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Paul Francis Barry
Jun 15, 2006
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Paul McCarthy
Jul 1, 2006
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Richard J. Cashin
Jan 28, 2009
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Douglas A. Weddleton
Jun 18, 2010
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Ellen E. Engelhardt
Jun 1, 2011
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Christopher O’Neil
Feb 25, 2016
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Thomas Lee Clardy
Mar 16, 2016
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Thomas William Devlin
Sep 3, 2020
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Tamar Anoush Bucci
Mar 3, 2022
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Enrique Delgado-Garcia
Sep 13, 2024
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Kevin Trainor
May 6, 2026
Where
Where the Name Is Cut
National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial · Panel 49-W
What is kept
Photographs, film, sound and papers — what survived a life.
Others Who Wore This Badge
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