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Incident
Trooper Joseph Lanzi was killed in an automobile crash while responding to assist a Cecil County deputy at the scene of a DUI accident in which the suspect was armed with a gun. During the response, Trooper Lanzi's patrol car skidded during a downpour and struck a tree on Route 213 near Town Point Road, seven miles south of Elkton. Trooper Lanzi had served with the Maryland State Police for almost five years.
Survivors
He was survived by his wife, two sons, and a daughter.
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 First Class Lanzi gave the Maryland State Police 5 years.
Thank you for your service to the people of Maryland. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Trooper First Class Lanzi.
— 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.
Joseph is one of 141 officers lost to accidents in MD, 37.3% of the 378 remembered there.
Joseph is one of 8,275 officers lost to accidents in the United States, 30% of the 27,551 remembered there.
Joseph is one of 10,100 officers lost to accidents worldwide, 29.6% of the 34,117 remembered here.
34,117 officers are remembered on this memorial. Each number below is one of them.
Time
In 1995, 1 officer at Maryland State Police was lost to accidents, the 6th heaviest of 23 years on record. The heaviest was 1923, with 2.
In 1995, 1 officer in MD was lost to accidents, the 35th heaviest of 88 years on record. The heaviest was 1925, with 6.
In 1995, 73 officers in the United States were lost to accidents, the 38th heaviest of 174 years on record. The heaviest was 1929, with 118.
In 1995, 81 officers worldwide were lost to accidents, the 54th heaviest of 200 years on record. The heaviest was 1930, with 131.
Who
Joseph was 37. 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. Joseph had served 5 years; the middle length of service was 3 years.
Joseph was 37. Of the 133 lost to accidents in MD whose age is recorded, half were between 27 and 42; the middle age was 33. Joseph had served 5 years; the middle length of service was 6 years.
Joseph was 37. 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. Joseph had served 5 years; the middle length of service was 6 years.
Joseph was 37. Of the 9,451 lost to accidents worldwide whose age is recorded, half were between 29 and 45; the middle age was 36. Joseph had served 5 years; the middle length of service was 6 years.
When
October holds 21.4% of these deaths at Maryland State Police, more than any other month. Saturdays: 25%.
October holds 15.6% of these deaths in MD, more than any other month. Saturdays: 11.3%.
October holds 9.1% of these deaths in the United States; August holds the most, 9.5%. Saturdays: 14.9%.
October holds 9.2% of these deaths worldwide; August holds the most, 9.3%. Saturdays: 14.7%.
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 29.6% of all 34,117 deaths worldwide, the 2nd most common cause.
His people
Maryland State Police has 42 officers remembered here, Joseph 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 35-W
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.
