THE ULTIMATE SACRIFICE  Trooper Bruce C. Rankin Pennsylvania State Police Troop "A" 1947-1973

Biographical Info
Age: 25
Years of Service: 2 years 3 months

Incident Details
Cause of Death:  Vehicle Accident
Date of Incident: April 25, 1973


Bruce C. Rankin was born August 20, 1947, at Brownsville, Fayette County, Pennsylvania.

He enlisted in the Pennsylvania State Police from Brownsville on January 28, 1971, when he was 23 years old. Following graduation from the Academy, Trooper Rankin was assigned to Troop A, Greensburg.

On April 25, 1973, Trooper Rankin was assigned to patrol Route 119. At a point just south of Greensburg, a tractor-trailer jumped the median barrier and struck Trooper Rankin's unmarked patrol vehicle. Trooper Rankin was pronounced dead at the accident scene. He was to be married in two weeks, on May 5.

Trooper Rankin was buried with full military honors at Redstone Cemetery, Brownsville Township, Fayette County. Several hundred state and local officers joined in paying tribute to Trooper Rankin. Lieutenant Colonel Joseph Dussia, Western Region Commander, and Major George Evan, Area V Commander, took part in the military funeral. He was survived by his mother, Mrs. Ella I. Rankin, of Brownsville.

At 25, Rankin had completed two years and three months of Pennsylvania State Police service.