Hamburg Borough Police Department, Pennsylvania
End of Watch: Friday, September 8, 2000
Age: 53
Tour of Duty: 21 years
Badge Number: 4
Cause of Death: Heart attack
Date of Incident: September 8, 2000
Weapon Used: Person
Suspect Info: Arrested at scene
Officer John Ayello died when he suffered a heart attack while making an arrest at the 300 Block of State Street in Hamburg.
Officer Ayello and another officer responded to a domestic disturbance call involving a suspect with outstanding warrants. While the suspect was being handcuffed, Officer Ayello suffered a heart attack. He was flown to a local hospital, where he was pronounced dead.
Officer Ayello was a United States Navy Vietnam War veteran who had been in law enforcement for 21 years and had founded several anti-drug youth groups in the area called "Hooked on Fishing, Not Drugs." He is survived by his wife and three grown children.