Newport Township Police Department, Pennsylvania
End of Watch: Sunday, November 25, 1928
Age: 34
Tour of Duty: 11 years, 7 months
Badge Number: Not available
Cause of Death: Gunfire (Inadvertent)
Date of Incident: November 4, 1928
Weapon Used: Officer's handgun
Suspect Info: Not available
Patrolman John Shepela succumbed an accidental gunshot wound sustained three weeks earlier as he attempted to shoot a dog that was attacking him in Glen Lyon, Pennsylvania.
He was attempting to remove his revolver from its holster when the weapon discharged. He was taken to Nanticoke State Hospital where he remained until succumbing to complications from the original wound.
Patrolman Shepela was a U.S. Army veteran of WWI and had served with the Newport Township Police Department for 11-1/2 years. He was survived by his parents.