Troopers mark 114 years witth annual State Police Day
Members of the Pennsylvania State Police gathered this morning at the Troop D barracks to mark the annual State Police Day.
Capt. Steve Ignatz, troop commander, presided over the annual ceremony that commemorates the state police — now in its 114th year — and pays tribute to the 98 troopers killed in the line of duty.
“Every year at this time, we remember all troopers who have died in the line of duty,” Ignatz said in his address to those in attendance, “and we pray their names are the last to be remembered as those who made the ultimate sacrifice.”
In attendance with the contingent of active officers were retired troopers, local police officers, district attorneys from Butler and other counties and politicians.
Ignatz recognized the two dozen uniformed troopers and offered them a message.
“Remember the men and women who have worn that uniform before you,” he said. “You worked hard to earn that uniform. Wear it with dignity and pride, just as those men and women did. Always do the right thing for the right reasons.”
During the ceremony, Cpl. Chris Birckbichler of the Mercer station and Lt. Joseph Glover, the troop's patrol section commander, placed a wreath at a memorial dedicated to the 10 fallen state police officers from Troop D.
“Truly,” Ignatz said, “Troop D had paid a very high price for the protection of our fellow Pennsylvanians.”
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