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Incident
Trooper Bland was killed in a single-car accident while responding to another emergency call. When he failed to arrive at the accident scene, other officers began to search for him. Trooper Bland’s cruiser had overturned into a creek. He was transported to a local hospital where he was pronounced dead. The roadways in the area were icy from a recent ice storm. There was also evidence that a deer had possibly crossed the cruiser’s path.
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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.
Senior Trooper Bland gave the West Virginia State Police 3 years.
Thank you for your service to the people of West Virginia. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Senior Trooper Bland.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
The Sacrifice · Accident
West Virginia State Police has lost 42 officers; 20 of them lost to accidents.
Douglas is one of 54 officers lost to accidents in WV, 23.3% of the 232 remembered there.
Douglas is one of 8,275 officers lost to accidents in the United States, 30% of the 27,551 remembered there.
Douglas is one of 10,100 officers lost to accidents worldwide, 29.8% of the 33,917 remembered here.
33,917 officers are remembered on this memorial. Each number below is one of them.
Time
In 1999, 1 officer at West Virginia State Police was lost to accidents, more than in any other year.
In 1999, 1 officer in WV was lost to accidents, the 8th heaviest of 47 years on record. The heaviest was 1922, with 2.
In 1999, 71 officers in the United States were lost to accidents, the 44th heaviest of 174 years on record. The heaviest was 1929, with 118.
In 1999, 78 officers worldwide were lost to accidents, the 61st heaviest of 200 years on record. The heaviest was 1930, with 131.
Who
Douglas was 26. Of the 16 lost to accidents at West Virginia State Police whose age is recorded, half were between 26 and 34; the middle age was 30. Douglas had served 3 years; the middle length of service was 5.5 years.
Douglas was 26. Of the 46 lost to accidents in WV whose age is recorded, half were between 26.3 and 46.3; the middle age was 33.5. Douglas had served 3 years; the middle length of service was 4 years.
Douglas was 26. 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. Douglas had served 3 years; the middle length of service was 6 years.
Douglas was 26. Of the 9,451 lost to accidents worldwide whose age is recorded, half were between 29 and 45; the middle age was 36. Douglas had served 3 years; the middle length of service was 6 years.
When
January holds 5% of these deaths at West Virginia State Police; November holds the most, 20%. Tuesdays: 10%.
January holds 13% of these deaths in WV; November holds the most, 16.7%. Tuesdays: 7.4%.
January holds 7.7% of these deaths in the United States; August holds the most, 9.5%. Tuesdays: 14.1%.
January holds 8.1% of these deaths worldwide; August holds the most, 9.3%. Tuesdays: 14%.
How
Accident deaths account for 47.6% of all 42 deaths at West Virginia State Police, the 2nd most common cause.
Accident deaths account for 23.3% of all 232 deaths in WV, 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 29.8% of all 33,917 deaths worldwide, the 2nd most common cause.
His people
West Virginia State Police has 42 officers remembered here, Douglas among them.
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Ernest Lee Ripley
Nov 18, 1920
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Charles M. Kackley
May 25, 1921
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William Lee McMillion
Jun 28, 1921
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George Albert Duling
Aug 28, 1921
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Howard Addison Deem
Jun 3, 1922
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James Blaine Shrewsbury
Jul 16, 1923
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Ulric Linton Crawford
Jun 20, 1924
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Theodore R. Meadows
Apr 17, 1926
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James Lewis Lowe
Jun 28, 1926
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Blake Allison Michael
May 1, 1927
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Arza A. Allen
Nov 1, 1928
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William Hall
Oct 18, 1930
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Farley K. Litton
Nov 8, 1935
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Allen Henry Bennett Jeffreys
Jul 16, 1939
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Franklin D. Patrick
Aug 27, 1939
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Newton Tressel Sites
Sep 2, 1942
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Burr White Harrison
Dec 3, 1945
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Joseph Pierce Horne
Sep 9, 1946
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Arthur M. Hurst
Jun 17, 1949
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Robert F. Rulong
Feb 10, 1958
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Harry E. Robinson
Nov 27, 1962
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William Joseph Shrewsbury
Sep 28, 1963
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Robert Ball Noechel
Nov 1, 1965
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Hugh Donald Swartz
Oct 5, 1970
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Thomas Dean Hercules
Jan 12, 1977
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Charles Henry Johnson
Jan 12, 1977
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Bruce Thompson Brown
Oct 14, 1977
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Dewey Colen Shrewsbury
Oct 25, 1978
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Philip S. Kesner
Nov 7, 1979
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Carlen Bill Stone
Dec 16, 1982
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Harry G. Lucas, Jr.
Sep 12, 1984
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Jonathan David Harris
Jul 11, 1985
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William Howard Phillips
Jul 30, 1987
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James Thomas Brammer
Apr 15, 1989
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Larry Gene Hacker
Apr 9, 1993
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Charles Matthew Turner
Apr 4, 1996
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Douglas Wayne Bland
Jan 19, 1999
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Brian William Linn
Nov 3, 2007
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Marshall Lee Bailey
Aug 28, 2012
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Eric Michael Workman
Aug 31, 2012
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Joseph George Portaro
Mar 14, 2016
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Cory Maynard
Jun 2, 2023
Where the Name Is Cut
National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial · Panel 52-E
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