MONTGOMERY TOWNSHIP, PA — A Montgomery Township police officer died last week following a sudden medical emergency, authorities announced Tuesday morning.
Sergeant Lee Wagner, 48, was a 16-year veteran of the department. He was a 1996 graduate of Perkiomen High School and served in the U.S. Navy aboard the USS Harry S. Truman air carrier.
"Throughout his career, Sergeant Wagner was known for unwavering dedication to the community, commitment to fellow officers, and professionalism in service to others," Montgomery Township shared in a statement.
After the military, he graduated from Reading Police Academy in 2009 and joined the Montgomery Township police department in 2010. He was promoted to sergeant in 2018.
His decorated career included numerous awards and recognitions, including the Lifesaving Award and several Letters of Commendation.
"Sergeant Wagner will be remembered not only for the badge he proudly wore, but for the lives touched through a career dedicated to protecting and serving others. He believed in putting others before himself, stepping up when others would not, and choosing to provide, protect, and love with his whole heart," the township added.
Wagner is survived by his wife and four children, whom officials described as the "center" of his life.
Authorities asked for the family's privacy.
To donate to support Wagner's family and legacy see Fund The First and the Montgomery County Hero Fund.
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