Newport Township Police Department, Pennsylvania
End of Watch: Monday, January 14, 1924
Age: 24
Tour of Duty: 1 week
Badge Number: Not available
Cause of Death: Gunfire
Date of Incident: January 14, 1924
Weapon Used: Gun; Unknown type
Suspect Info: sentenced 10-20 years
Patrolman Peter Petynko was shot and killed in Alden, Pennsylvania, while attempting to arrest a man who had just shot at another man.
The subject and his friends had been become engaged in an argument while drinking moonshine and breaking windows out of houses in the area. The man remonstrated against what they were doing and was attacked by the friends.
The man then went home at 136 Gruver Street, obtained his revolver, and returned to the scene where he fired at one of the friends. The man he fired at ran from the scene and told Patrolman Petynko. When Patrolman Petynko located the subject and tried to arrest him he was shot once in the chest.
The subject then fled from the area and returned home, where he was arrested a short time later. He pleaded guilty to murdering Patrolman Petynko and was sentenced 10-20 years in prison.
Patrolman Petynko had only served with the Newport Township Police Department for one week. He was survived by his mother and two sisters.