Dozens gathered at the state police headquarters in Butler yesterday to honor fallen officers.
May 2nd marks the anniversary of when the state police force was created in Pennsylvania.
Trooper Josh Black says the day serves as an opportunity for the state police members to come together and acknowledge the day.
“We celebrate not only the families of the men and women who laid down their lives, but we also celebrate each other. It’s a day where we come together and share stories with current members of the state police force, but also retired members,” Black said.
Over the last 118 years, over 100 state police officers have died while on duty in Pennsylvania. In Troop D—which covers Butler, Beaver, Lawrence, Mercer, and Armstrong Counties—there have been 10 troopers who have died.
The last trooper who died on active duty in Troop D was Blake Coble, who died in a vehicle accident in October 2012 in Beaver County.
