Troopers With Lower Bucks County Ties Remembered

May 4, 2022

At a solemn ceremony on Monday, the Pennsylvania State Police remembered fallen troopers, including several with Lower Bucks County ties.

The ceremony held at the state police academy outside of Hershey paid homage to past line of duty deaths, and the four ones that have happened since the last ceremony in 2019.

Respects were paid to Trooper Donald C. Brackett, who died along the Pennsylvania Turnpike in Bensalem Township on May 18, 2019 due to a medical emergency; Trooper First Class Dung X. Martinez, who died on Oct. 21, 2021 due to complications from COVID-19 and had served Lower Bucks County; and Trooper Martin F. Mack III, of Bristol Borough, and Trooper Branden T. Sisca, of Montgomery County, both of whom died on March 21 after they were struck by a suspected intoxicated motorist in Philadelphia.

Families of the fallen troopers were in attendance.

“This year has been extremely difficult for all of our personnel as we solemnly etch additional names to the memorial wall,” said Col. Robert Evanchick, commissioner of the Pennsylvania State Police. “The 102 names etched into the wall not only represent the individual troopers who died in service to the commonwealth, but also the sacrifices of family members and loved ones who suffered their loss. Today we honor all those who laid down their lives and will ensure their contributions to our department are never forgotten.”

“Today serves as an important reminder of the dangers faced by members of law enforcement throughout the commonwealth, and I ask all Pennsylvanians to pause in remembrance of the 102 troopers who have made the ultimate sacrifice,” Gov. Tom Wolf said.

The state police were established 117 years ago by Gov. Samuel Pennypacker. The agency has grown from 228 troopers to more than 6,700 men and woman, which has made it one of the largest police agencies in the nation.

The state police have an online version of their memorial wall.