While taking enforcement action for a traffic violation, Wade was struck by a motorist who ran off the roadway striking the police vehicle, the violator's vehicle, the trooper and the violator. Trooper Wade died at the scene. Incident occurred on the John F. Kennedy Highway 1/4 mile south of the Havre de Grace exit. 

While investigating a domestic complaint involving neighbors, Mills was shot with a .38 caliber pistol. He fell to the ground and attempted to get his service revolver, when he was struck in the chest area with a bullet from a high powered rifle. He died a short time later at Peninsula General Hospital. Incident occurred at a trailer site in Brookview, a small town next to Rhodesdale, MD, address of Rt. 1 -Box 35A, Rhodesdale. 

While on a traffic stop late in the evening, Trooper Presbury was shot four times with a .45 caliber weapon by a suspect. He died several days later without regaining consciousness. Incident occurred on n/b shoulder of Md. State Rt. 3 (Crain Highway) 1/3 mile south of Md. Rt. 176 (Dorsey Road). 

While checking via radio on the license of a driver of a van with three other occupants, Sgt. Mowbray was shot and killed when struck by a shotgun blast. Investigation later revealed that the registration plates on the van were stolen and there were outstanding warrants for two of the occupants. Occurred near Baker's Liquor Store in Chester, MD. 

While assisting a disabled motorist, Trooper Hudson was struck by an intoxicated driver who drove through flares on the roadway used to warn oncoming traffic. The incident occurred near the Virginia line on the Woodrow Wilson Bridge. 

Trooper Purnell was killed when the vehicle he was driving ran off the roadway and struck a light pole in a service station on Rt. 50 near Cambridge. He was removed from the vehicle before it burst into flames. 

While on traffic patrol in a Bell Jet Ranger helicopter, the craft crashed while the crewmen were attempting an emergency landing. The crash reportedly was caused by engine failure. Occurred in Beltsville near Muirkirk Road and U.S. RT 1. 

While on traffic patrol in a Bell Jet Ranger helicopter, the craft crashed while the crewmen were attempting an emergency landing. The crash reportedly was caused by engine failure. Occurred in Beltsville near Muirkirk Road and U.S. RT 1. 

While en route to Dorchester General Hospital in their med-evac equipped Bell Jet Ranger aircraft to accomplish a transport to the Maryland Trauma Center, the helicopter crashed. Indications were that the aircraft encountered heavy fog and the pilot was attempting to land when the crash occurred. Crash occurred in an empty field 1/4 mile east of Bennett's Paint Road near Queenstown; actually crashed on Perry Corner Road on a farm. 

While en route to Dorchester General Hospital in their med-evac equipped Bell Jet Ranger aircraft to accomplish a transport to the Maryland Trauma Center, the helicopter crashed. Indications were that the aircraft encountered heavy fog and the pilot was attempting to land when the crash occurred. Crash occurred in an empty field 1/4 mile east of Bennett's Paint Road near Queenstown; actually crashed on Perry Corner Road on a farm. 

Trooper First Class Plummer was killed in a plane crash while trying to locate an individual on Assateague Island. After locating the individual and attempting to take off, the plane crashed on the beach. 

When Lieutenant Brown stepped forward to arrest an intruder, Brown was shot in the stomach with a small caliber pistol while on a stakeout for a holdup. He was shot at Smitty's Steak House (restaurant), Bryans Road. He was on the operating table for four hours as surgeons attempted to remove the bullet lodged in a muscle close to the spine. Lieutenant Brown never regained consciousness. 

Trooper First Class Ridge was shot disarming a deranged man. Two tax assessors had reported to the property of Steve Orris to value it. Mr. Orris met them with a rifle and fired a shot. Trooper First Class Ridge was called to the scene. He tried to disarm Orris and a scuffle took place. Ridge obtained possession of the rifle, but Orris pulled a revolver and shot Ridge five times at close range. Occurred at the Orris home on Northern Avenue, north of Hagerstown. 








 

Quartermaster Sergeant Dryden was seriously injured in a collision with a bakery truck in Mount Rainier, Maryland (intersection of Rhode Island Avenue and 34th Street) while escorting Governor Ritchie home from the first Roosevelt inauguration. After a five year battle against infections caused by the injuries, Dryden died of septicemia (streptococcus in the bloodstream). 

Officer Shaab was killed when his motorcycle collided with an automobile while he was rushing to the scene of a highway accident at Dull's Corner (side street off the Baltimore-Annapolis Blvd.) He was thrown from the cycle. He was taken to the emergency room where he was pronounced dead of a fractured skull, broken neck, cuts, bruises, and internal injuries. 

Hunter was part of an expedition attempting to take 2,000 pounds of food supplies to Smith Island across Tangier Sound from Crisfield, Maryland, during a blizzard on the bay. He succumbed to the cold after falling through the ice. 

While patrolling the Sykesville-West Friendship Road in Howard County, his motorcycle skidded on a patch of ice and threw him off. He suffered a fractured skull. 

His motorcycle crashed into the rear of a wagon without regulation rear lights. Believed to have been blinded by the bright headlights of an oncoming vehicle, Kuhn's sidecar hit a wheel of the wagon. He was thrown from the motorcycle onto the concrete roadway near Mardela Springs outside of Salisbury. 

He was killed when his motorcycle struck a truck tire on Washington Boulevard at Savage, 50 feet from the Laurel Substation. He was thrown from his cycle, over the handlebars onto his head. He sustained a fractured skull. 

While traveling by motorcycle on Washington State Road approaching Westminster, he collided with a car near Colonial Avenue. The motorcycle struck the right front fender of the car and Rhodes' head hit the door. His skull was crushed. 

Officer Noon was chasing a violator and was thrown from his motorcycle. He died from injuries sustained during the accident. 

Officer Albert E. Cramblitt was born July 10, 1902, in Baltimore, MD and entered into law enforcement on April 4, 1925. Motorcycle Officer Cramblitt's service to the State of Maryland was part of the Maryland Motor Vehicle Commission and he was assigned to the Laurel Substation. Even though Officer Cramblitt's service lasted only six months, this certainly did not lessen his sacrifice to the citizens of Maryland.

On the afternoon of October 1, 1925, Officer Cramblitt was in pursuit of a suspected bootlegger on Washington Boulevard, also known at that time as "The Famous Washington-Baltimore Rum-Running Blvd." Officer Cramblitt was traveling, according to reports, approximately 55 MPH on his 1924 Indian Motorcycle when a truck pulled into his path and he struck the truck broadside. Cramblitt died instantly. He was 23 years old at the time of his death. A funeral service was held on October 4, 1925, at his home and he was buried in a family plot in Loudon Park Cemetery.

Officer Cramblitt came from a large family, including his parents Louisa and Thomas Cramblitt, eight brothers and four sisters. Because of the Great Depression, it was very tough for Officer Cramblitt and his family. Officer Cramblitt has four surviving family members: Marcella Cummings, Viola Quant who resides on the Eastern Shore of Maryland, and two brothers Carroll Cramblitt of Baltimore, MD, and Ellsworth Cramblitt of Woodlawn, MD. Officer Cramblitt never married and lived with his parents until the time of his death.

Officer Cramblitt was the fifth Motor Vehicle Commission Motorcycle Officer to die in the line of duty and the first law enforcement officer in the State to be buried in uniform with full police honors.

His uniform was purchased by his mother and the Commissioner of the Motor Vehicle Commission provided an honor guard. Motor Vehicle Commission Captain Charles E. Myers served as commanding officer in charge of the funeral detail. A detail of fellow officers served as pall-bearers. This funeral began a tradition which is still carried out today.

In 1992 Ellsworth Cramblitt, brother of Officer A. Cramblitt, donated the 1924 black and white photograph of Officer Cramblitt aboard his 1924 Indian motorcycle outside of the Laurel Substation. The photo had been handed down through many family members including his brother Ellsworth who had the photograph for approximately 35 years before donating it to the Maryland State Police Museum. By request of the family, a copy of the photograph is currently on display at the Waterloo Barrack on U.S. Rt. 1, the former location of the Laurel Substation. The Barrack Commander for the Waterloo Barrack is charged with the responsibility for caring for the photo. 

Officer Hugh K. Painter, a 28 year old Motorcycle Officer, while on night patrol, was in pursuit of a speeding vehicle when the speeder unexpectedly turned off his lights and hit his brakes. Officer Painter, traveling at a speed of 60 miles per hour, crashed into the rear of the automobile and died several days later of complications from his injuries (pneumonia). 

Officer Raymond P. Eicholtz, a 24 years old Motorcyle Officer, was pursuing a speeding vehicle in the Hagerstown area. when another vehicle pulled into his path. Officer Eicholtz attempted to stop his motorcycle, but collided with the vehicle and sustained critical injuries. 

Officer John W. Jeffrey, a Motorcyle Officer, served with the Maryland State Police for only two months before succumbing to injuries received after skidding off the roadway during the pursuit of a speeding motorist. Officer Jeffrey's patrol included Baltimore and Howard Counties. His service to the State of Maryland, despite being just a few short months, does not lessen his sacrifice.