Delaware State Police, Delaware
End of Watch: Thursday, April 19, 1962
Age: 34
Tour of Duty: 6 years
Badge Number: 1
Cause of Death: Vehicular assault
Date of Incident: April 19, 1962
Weapon Used: Automobile
Suspect Info: Sentenced to 1 year
Trooper Rupert was killed in an automobile crash during a pursuit of a car he had attempted to stop for traffic violations.
The chase had just crossed the state line into Pennsylvania when the vehicle Trooper Rupert was a passenger in tried to pass the suspect vehicle. The suspect vehicle rammed the patrol car, causing it to collide with an oncoming tractor-trailer. Trooper Rupert received fatal injuries in the collision, and his partner was seriously injured. The driver of the suspect vehicle later turned himself in after learning of the fatal accident and was charged with involuntary manslaughter.
The 22-year-old was convicted of involuntary manslaughter and sentenced to one year in a Pennsylvania prison. He served his sentence and was returned to Delaware, where he was convicted of several traffic violations. He was sentenced to 10 years probation, fined $3,400.00, and his license was revoked for 10 years.
Trooper Rupert was a U.S. Marine Corps WWII and Korean War veteran and had served with the Delaware State Police for six years. He was survived by his wife and five children.