In Memoriam
The Maine State Police has lost twelve troopers and one K9 in the course of duty over the years.
Lest we forget, we pray no other name ever appear on this list.
Each December, members of the Maine State Police travel to the gravesites of all the Troopers who were killed in the line of duty. They place a wreath and pay respects to those who gave the full measure in their service to the citizens of Maine.
Tr. Emery Gooch (1885-1924)
Officer Gooch was killed when he lost control of his motorcycle in Mattawamkeag on August 9, 1924. He had joined the State Highway Patrol the month earlier.
Tr. Frank Wing (1902-1928)
Trooper Wing was killed when his motorcycle collided with an oil truck in Millinocket on August 19, 1928. He had joined the State Police two months earlier.
Tr. Thomas Merry (1952-1980)
Trooper Merry was killed on July 12, 1980 in Palmyra when struck by a car involved in a high-speed chase. Merry had parked his cruiser as part of a roadblock and was attempting to seek safe cover when struck by the fleeing car. He joined the State Police in 1977.
Det. Giles Landry (1952-1989)
Detective Landry was shot to death on March 31, 1989 while investigating a child abuse complaint in Leeds. The gunman also killed a woman who had been talking to Detective Landry, before turning the gun on himself. Landry joined the State Police in 1976 and was promoted to Detective in 1988.
Tr. Jeffrey Parola (1967-1994)
Trooper Parola was killed on November 13, 1994 when his cruiser crashed in Sidney. He was a member of the Tactical Team and was responding to a domestic violence call at the time. Parola joined the State Police in 1989.
Det. Glenn Strange (1951-1997)
Detective Strange died of heart problems on October 17, 1997, days after arresting a violent drunk driver who had kicked and punched him in the chest in the town of Linneus. He had joined the State Police in 1994 following a teaching career and was promoted to Detective weeks before his death.
K9 Preacher (2025)
Preacher was killed on February 4, 2025 while trying to detain a suspect in an armed standoff in Portage. Preacher sustained gunshot wounds and succumbed to his injuries on the way to the vet. He and his handler, Sgt. Jonathon Russell, became a team in 2022.
Tr. Fred Foster (1898-1925)
Trooper Foster was killed when his motorcycle struck a horse hauling a load of hay. The accident occurred in Belfast on August 30, 1925. He had joined the State Highway Patrol in 1924.
Tr. Charles Black (1936-1964)
Trooper Black was shot to death on July 9, 1964 outside the Maine National Bank in South Berwick during an armed robbery. He joined the department in 1958.
Tr. Michael Veilleux (1962-1986)
Trooper Veilleux was killed on June 17, 1986 when he lost control of his cruiser and it overturned in Dayton. He had graduated from the State Police Academy the previous month.
Lt. Rene Goupil (1990)
Lieutenant Goupil suffered a fatal heart attack on January 23, 1990, while performing his duties as a member of the training staff for the 42nd Training Troop.
Tr. James Griffith (1961-1996)
Trooper Griffith was killed on April 15, 1996 when a second vehicle in Warren struck his cruiser, as the Trooper was attempting to make a U-turn to pursue a speeding car. Griffith had joined the State Police in 1986.
Det. Benjamin Campbell (1987-2019)
Detective Campbell was killed on April 3, 2019, when he was struck by a vehicle tire while assisting at the scene of a disabled vehicle south bound on I-95 of in Hampden. Campbell joined the State Police in 2012.