Eastern Shore of Maryland Fallen Heroes | Trooper Joseph Thomas Lanzi, Maryland State Police

Saturday 5/26: Today we acknowledge the 30th name on the memorial wall in Dorchester County, honoring the fallen officers of Maryland's eastern shore.

Trooper Lanzi was killed in an accident 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 down pour and struck a tree. Trooper Lanzi had served with the agency for almost 5 years. He was survived by his wife, two sons, and daughter. Source: ODMP.

Trooper First Class Edward Plank, Maryland State Police | EOW: October 17th, 1995

Tuesday 5/22: Today we remember one of Maryland's Finest, the second officer to be killed in the line of duty from the Princess Anne State Police Barrack.

Trooper Edward Plank was shot and killed during a traffic stop near Princess Ann, Maryland, at 1:09 a.m. Unknown to Trooper Plank at the time, the driver and passenger of the car were returning to the state after a drug re-supply. Trooper Plank called for back-up when he became suspicious of the driver and after conferring with another officer approached the vehicle a second time at which point he was shot in the face and killed instantly. The two suspects fled but were caught later in the day. One of the suspects was caught after breaking into a house. The owner of the house clubbed the suspect with an empty rifle after being shot at and held him until police arrived. Four hundred grams of cocaine were found in the suspect's car.

The shooter pled guilty to first degree murder on May 14, 1996, and was sentenced to death. In July 1998 the suspect's death sentenced was overturned and he now is facing life in prison.

Trooper Plank had served with the agency for 7 years. He was survived by his wife, a 7-month-old daughter, and his parents. Source: ODMP.

Remembering Trooper Mark P. Groner, Maryland State Police | EOW: October 1st, 1992

Monday 5/21: State police officer Mark P. Groner became the 28th officer to pass in the line of duty on the eastern shore of Maryland. He was 24 years of age at the time of his death.

Trooper Groner was killed in an accident at Routes 392 and 313 near Hurlock while responding to a call. His vehicle was struck by a vehicle, spun around, and struck by a third oncoming vehicle. Trooper Groner had been with the agency for almost five years. Source: ODMP.

Maryland's Eastern Shore LODD: Trooper First Class Eric Dwight Monk, Maryland State Police

Saturday 5/19: Today we remember a fallen state trooper who became the 26th line of duty death on the eastern shore of Maryland (Somerset County). Remembering Trooper First Class Eric Dwight Monk, Maryland State Police. End of Watch Saturday, April 9, 1988.

"Trooper Eric Monk was struck and killed by a vehicle during a traffic stop on US Route 13 in Westover. He had been with the agency for just over 11 years and was survived by wife, brother, mother, and father." Source: ODMP.

Remembering Trooper First Class William P. Mills, Jr, Maryland State Police | EOW June 8th, 1979

Friday 5/18: "Trooper Mills was shot and killed while investigating a domestic complaint involving two neighbors in Brookview, Maryland. While on the scene he was shot in the chest with a .38 caliber handgun and knocked down. As he attempted to draw his weapon he was shot in the chest with a high powered rifle. The man who shot him also shot and killed the neighbor he had been arguing with. On November 6, 1979, the 68 year-old suspect was found not guilty by reason of insanity and sent to a mental institution. Trooper Mills had been with the agency for almost nine years." Source: ODMP.

Sergeant Wallace Johnson Mowbray, Maryland State Police

Wednesday 5/16: Remembering Sergeant Wallace Johnson Mowbray, End of Watch: August 10th, 1975. Sergeant Wallace Mowbray was shot and killed during a traffic stop near Chester, Maryland. He was checking a license plate over the radio when he was struck by a shotgun blast. The license plates turned out to be stolen and two of the four occupants had warrants out for their arrest. All four suspects fled from the scene. Two suspects, who were later convicted of doing the shooting, kidnapped a couple in Chester, took their car, and raped the woman. They were captured several hours later. The other two suspects stole a boat and headed toward the Western Shore. They were captured two days later.

Maryland Law Enforcement | Trooper Milton Veasily Purnell, Jr., Maryland State Police

Tuesday 5/15: Today we remember the sixth Maryland state trooper to pass in the line of duty on the eastern shore of Maryland. Trooper Milton Purnell was killed in an automobile accident on Route 50 near Cambridge when his patrol car struck a utility pole at a service station. He had only been with the agency for 17 months. Source: ODMP.

Remembering Trooper Milton Veasily Purnell, Jr.

Maryland State Police

End of Watch: May 29th, 1975

I was unable to find any other details about Trooper Purnell. However, each time I have attended the fallen officer memorial ride at the Eastern Shore Police Association in Rhodesdale, there is a photograph of him placed at the wall. I hoped to locate some information or perhaps family members but as of today have not been able to learn more about him.

Thank you to all of our law enforcement agencies and departments. We are grateful for you each and every day! Stay safe and God bless you all.



Sincerely,
Delmarva Supports Law Enforcement

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Trooper First Class Arthur W. Plummer, Jr. | Maryland State Police

Monday 5/7: Today we remember a fallen state trooper, the first line of duty death on the eastern shore to be involved in an airplane incident. From the Aviation Command Fallen Heroes website: "Since the inception of Maryland State Police Aviation Command, there has been one airplane and four fatal helicopter crashes. These crashes have claimed the lives of nine State Troopers and one EMT. "

Remembering Officer Joseph E. Kuhn, Maryland State Police | EOW: 4/8/1934

Today we acknowledge the eighth name on the memorial wall located in Rhodesdale, Maryland. This state trooper is the first motorcycle officer to pass in the line of duty on the eastern shore. Officer Kuhn served 1 year and 8 months of service from August 15, 1932 to April 8, 1934. His motorcycle crashed into the rear of a wagon without regulation rear lights, and it is believed that he was blinded by the bright headlights of an oncoming vehicle. Kuhn's sidecar hit a wheel of the wagon and he was thrown from the motorcycle onto the concrete roadway near Mardela Springs outside of Salisbury. Source: MSP Facebook page