Pennsylvania State Police, Pennsylvania
End of Watch: Thursday, December 9, 1971
Age: 49
Tour of Duty: 25 years, 10 months
Badge Number: 1003
Cause of Death: Gunfire
Date of Incident: December 9, 1971
Weapon Used: Gun; Unknown type
Suspect Info: One shot and killed
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.