Patrolman Maurice J. Vonck

Maurice J. Vonck

Patrolman Vonck was accidentally shot and killed when a gun fell from his pocket and discharged.

Officer Vonck and his partner had been working plainclothes on an investigation of the $1200 robbery the Sunday night before of a local store owner. They had just returned to their unmarked car when Patrolman Vonck said he thought he had dropped some money on the floor of the back seat. Patrolman Vonck plugged an emergency light into the cigar lighter, got out of the car, and bent over to shine the light on the floor in the rear of the car. As he did a two-shot derringer fell from his shirt pocket. The small weapon did not have a trigger guard and discharged when it hit the curb, killing Patrolman Vonck.

Patrolman Vonck was a U.S. Navy veteran who served with the Oregon Police Department for four years. He was survived by his wife, daughter and three sons.