Hazleton City Police Department, Pennsylvania
End of Watch Sunday, May 15, 1938
Add to My HeroesErnesto "Nesty" Valente
Officer Nesty Valente was killed when he was thrown from the running board of a vehicle that was transporting an injured boy to the hospital.
The boy had been struck by a vehicle nearby and suffered severe leg injuries The driver of the vehicle placed the boy in the car and began driving him to the hospital through heavy traffic.
Officer Valente was flagged down and then jumped onto the car's running board and sounded his whistle as they continued to the hospital. As they approached the intersection of Broad Street and Wyoming Street the driver hit his brakes hard, throwing Officer Valente to the ground.
Officer Valente was taken to the hospital in a taxi but succumbed to his injuries.
Officer Valente had served with the Hazleton City Police Department for 17 years.
Bio
- Age 44
- Tour 17 years
- Badge Not available
Incident Details
- Cause Automobile crash
Most Recent Reflection
View all 7 ReflectionsWas my honor to follow thru on a story my father told me as a boy, that his mothers sister , Susan Valente (maiden name Danes) husband Ernesto was the the first police officer to die in the line of duty in the city of Hazleton PA.
So I searched the net for any old newspaper articles of his sacrifice and came across The ODMP page. Again no tribute to this man. So I contacted Chief Frank D’Andrea and he put the tribute together. I also was able to bring his grandchildren to Hazleton the second year of the tribute. I am proud to be a father of a Police Officer and all our men and women in blue. And Especially proud to have been a factor in honoring Patrolman Valente after 75 years of his sacrifice.
Bill Juliano
Great Nephew of Officer Ernesto Valente
Hazleton Pa Police Dept
End of watch May 15, 1938
January 31, 2022
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