Patrolman Rodney K. Wentling

Rodney K. Wentling

Patrolman Rodney Wentling was shot and killed while approaching a stolen vehicle occupied by three juveniles at a used car lot at 192 South Mercer Street at 1:15 am.

The boys were captured five hours later by state troopers in Corry, Pennsylvania, after a chase which ended when their stolen vehicle crashed.

The 15 year-old suspect who fired the fatal shot was convicted of second degree murder and sentenced to 10 to 20 years on April 24, 1967.

Patrolman Wentling was single and had served with the Greenville / West Salem Police Department for six months, as well as serving with the St. Cloud Police Department in Florida for three months prior. He is survived by his parents, two brothers, and a sister. Rodney K. Wentling Park in Greenville is named in his honor.