Patrolman Rodney K. Wentling

Rodney K. Wentling

Patrolman Rodney Wentling was shot and killed while approaching a stolen vehicle occupied by three juveniles at a used car lot at 192 South Mercer Street at 1:15 am.

The boys were captured five hours later by state troopers in Corry, Pennsylvania, after a chase that ended when their stolen vehicle crashed.

The 15-year-old suspect who fired the fatal shot was convicted of second-degree murder and sentenced to 10 to 20 years on April 24, 1967.

Patrolman Wentling had served with the Greenville / West Salem Police Department for six months and had previously served three months with the St. Cloud Police Department in Florida. He is survived by his parents, two brothers, and a sister.

Rodney K. Wentling Park in Greenville is named in his honor.