NEW CASTLE —
Two new names appeared on the roll call of fallen officers at this year’s New Castle police memorial ceremony.
They are Chico, a 6-year-old brindle Dutch shepherd, who was found unresponsive in a police cruiser June 4, dead of apparent heat stroke, and Achille, a 7-year-old German shepherd who died of cancer in November.
The two were remembered Thursday afternoon along with other deceased police officers in a somber ceremony outside New Castle City Hall.
“Two words,” Police Chief Bobby Salem said. “Officer down. Those are words no police officer ever wants to hear.
“These brave men will live in our hearts forever.”
Quoting from the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial he said, “It’s not how they died that made them heroes, it’s how they lived. God bless our fallen police officers.”
Patrolmen Aaron Vitale and Steve Brooks placed a wreath of flowers in front of the Fraternal Order of Police monument then saluted.
Also participating in the ceremony were police chaplains — the Revs. Gary Crowe and Ron Eade, both of New Castle, and the Rev. Tod Custer of Ellwood City.
Sgt. David Cumo, a police detective, read the roll call of fallen officers.
Along with the two canines added this year, they are:
•Frank C. Skidmore, a New Castle officer, shot and killed Aug. 17, 1904.
•Seeley L. Houk, a Pennsylvania Game Commission warden, shot and killed March 2, 1906.
•Thomas Thomas, New Castle officer, drowned when his rescue boat overturned during a flood on March 27, 1913.
•James Cucia, New Castle officer, shot and killed May 2, 1918.
•John W. Edwards, New Castle officer, fatally injured during the tin mill strike and riots. He died Dec. 1, 1919.
•Bernard McElroy, state police trooper, killed in an on-duty motorcycle accident in New Castle Dec. 31, 1924.
•Brady C. Paul, state police trooper, shot and killed in gunfight in Shenango Township Dec. 27, 1929.
•Clarence Campbell, New Castle officer, shot and killed during a bank robbery May 23, 1932.
•Albert J. Izzo, state police trooper, shot and killed during a drug raid in Mahoningtown June 13, 1979.
Cumo also paid tribute to deceased officer Robert Lepore, who died July 26, 2008, of complications from injuries he had sustained in an accident while off duty.
“He will never be forgotten.”
(Email: dwachter@ncnewonline.com)
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