Corporal John Severin Valent, Pennsylvania State Police, Pennsylvania

Corporal John Severin Valent

Pennsylvania State Police, Pennsylvania

End of Watch Thursday, December 9, 1971

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John Severin Valent

Corporal John Valent was shot and killed while transporting three suspects to Lewistown Station after stopping them.

The three suspects had no identification and claimed to be from out of state. While driving to the station, only a quarter-mile from where he stopped them, one of the three suspects shot him in the back of the head.

One of the suspects was shot and killed the following day, and the other two were arrested and charged with Corporal Valent's murder. The two served ten years under a plea bargain.

Corporal Valent was a U.S. Navy veteran of World War II and had served with the Pennsylvania State Police for 25 years. He was survived by his wife and three children.

A portion of Pennsylvania Route 22 in Mifflin County was renamed the Corporal John S. Valent Memorial Highway.

Bio

Age 49
Tour 25 years, 10 months
Badge 1003
Military Veteran

Incident Details

Cause Gunfire
Weapon Gun; Unknown type
Offender One shot and killed

transport

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I was working with his daughter, Debbie, in Bethlehem when this happened. She never returned to work and I never forgot her heartbreak. We lost a hero that day, I lost a friend and coworker, and she lost her Daddy. May he peacefully rest.❤

Beth Melloy Masiado
Friend

January 3, 2022