Background

I am Kent Hollenberg, a 32 year veteran of the Hagerstown Police Department.  Excluding my military service, Hagerstown has been my home for over 50 years.

In mid 2006, I learned about Hagerstown Town Marshal Leonard Geisler and his murder in 1905.  At that time I was unaware of Leonard Geisler, or his assailant, John Knapp.

Leah Huddleston, Leonard Geisler’s cousin, learned of Leonard’s absence from the local law enforcement officers roster at the police memorial.  She then met with her friend, Julie Owens, a retired Wayne County sheriff’s deputy, to inquire further.  As a result, Mrs. Huddleston provided me with the necessary information and assistance to preserve Marshal Geisler’s part in Hagerstown history.

I took interest in Leonard Geisler’s story and contacted Sara Bruns, a junior at Hagerstown Jr. & Sr. High School, to assist me with this project.  Sara is a business student and a member of the National Honor Society.  She agreed to help as part of her public service for National Honor Society and has typed and formatted this document with technical assistance from her instructors.

I agreed to preserve Marshal Geisler’s story for three reasons:  to properly recognize his police service to our community, to preserve Hagerstown history, and to ensure his induction into the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial for those police officers killed in the line of duty.

My thanks to thos who worked to make this document possible:

My family: Debbie, Dylan and Derek

The Richmond “Evening Item” – 1905

Morrison-Reeves Library newspaper archives

John Dawson & Gracie Inman, Hagerstown High School – Business Department

Irongate Creative

Steve Sorah, my friend with an interest in preserving local law enforcement history

Corlyn Lafever, Wayne County Historian

nettle Creek Cultural Center

Wayne County Clerk’s Office

Town of Hagerstown Government