Police Officer Ronald D. Seymore

Ronald D. Seymore

Officer Seymore was shot and killed by a man who had been served an injunction by the county sheriff to stop operating an illegal garbage dump earlier in the day. The suspect became enraged and threatened to kill law enforcement officers. As he drove by Officer Seymore and an auxiliary officer as they were directing traffic in front of the Centre County Courthouse he opened fire on them, killing Officer Seymore and seriously wounding the auxiliary officer. Officer Seymore had arrested the suspect the previous day for assault and battery resulting from an argument about the dump.

The suspect was arrested a short time later 50 miles away on I-80 after a police chase. He was convicted of first degree murder and sentenced to life in prison on June 23, 1972. He died in prison on December 2, 2000.

Officer Seymore was survived by his five young children.