In memory of those who have made the supreme sacrifice.
The following officers died in the line of duty while protecting the peace in York County:
Fallen Police Officers
Officer Curtis D. Sowers
North York Police Department
End of Watch: May 21, 1929
Curtis D. Sowers was born July 18, 1895.
Sowers was a World War I veteran, serving with the artillery of the Sixth Division of the U.S. Army. He was married, had no children, and lived on Dewey Avenue in North York.
Sowers was a motorcycle officer in North York Borough, appointed on June 24, 1927, earning a salary of $30 a week. Sowers moonlighted as a sheriff's deputy, assisting constables in the performance of their duties.
On December 26, 1928, two of Albert Toomey's calves went missing from his Newberry Township farm. Toomey went to the justice of the peace in Emigsville and swore out a complaint against the three men he suspected of stealing his calves.
Private Dean N. Zeigler
Pennsylvania Motor Police
End of Watch: October 17, 1942
Dean N. Zeigler was born March 25, 1918, at Spring Mills, Centre County, Pennsylvania.
He enlisted in the Pennsylvania Motor Police from Spring Mills on October 1, 1941. After his graduation from the Indiantown Gap Police School, he was assigned to the Lykens sub-station. Zeigler was transferred to Troop A-2, Harrisburg on September 1, 1942. He was 23 years old and 5'11" tall.
On Sunday, October 11, 1942, Private Zeigler was assigned to patrol the Harrisburg-Gettysburg Road from Lemoyne to Dillsburg.
Patrolman Henry C. Schaad
York City Police Department
End of Watch: August 1, 1969
Henry C. Schaad, Patrolman, was born Nov 11, 1947 in York, Pennsylvania.
It was natural for Henry to enter the police profession, as it had been his father's occupation for nearly 20 years. After successfully completing the entrance exams, Henry was appointed to the York City Police Department on September 17, 1968, his father's twentieth anniversary on the job.
Like many communities during the summer of 1969, York was experiencing civil disorders and turmoil.
Canine Fury
York City Police Department
End of Watch: April 12, 1971
Fury was a three-year-old German Shepherd male and was the partner of Patrolman Frank A. Tortorici.
On Monday, April 12, 1971, Theodore Roosevelt "Ted" Gotwalt, 26, murdered Marian L. Flaharty, 24, of 702 Madison Avenue, in front of her three-year-old daughter in her second-floor apartment. Her body was discovered around 10:00-10:30 a.m. after she failed to drop off her daughter at the babysitter. Gotwalt was identified as the suspect, and an intensive manhust was begun by multiple police agencies.
At about 9:15 p.m. that evening, York City Patrolmen Frank A. Tortorici and Gordon E. Fleming were entering Legore's Restaurant on Carlisle Avenue at Brougher Lane in West Manchester Township.
Deputy Sheriff Edward "Skip" Schroeder Jr.
York County Sheriff's Department
End of Watch: January 10, 2005
Edward Eugene "Skip" Schroeder Jr. was born November 22, 1957 in York. He is a 1975 graduate of Central York High School. Schroeder was married but had no children, and lived in Springettsbury Township.
Schroeder was a veteran of the United States Marine Corps, guarding military prisoners at Quantico from 1977 to 1981. He was previously employed as a driver and dock worked for the Consolidated Freight Company.
Deputy Schroeder was attending the Deputy Sheriffs Training Academy in State College, Pennsylvania.
Officer David D. Tome
Northern York County Regional Police Department
End of Watch: October 21, 2008
David D. Tome was born April 10, 1977 in York, Pennsylvania.
Officer Tome graduated Spring Grove Area High School in 1996, and graduated from Penn State University in 2000. Tome attended the 83rd Police Academy at Harrisburg Area Community College in 2003. After graduating the Police Academy, Officer Tome began his career with the Northern York County Regional Police Department. Officer Tome was married with two children.
On Tuesday, October 21, 2008, Officer Tome was part of an accident reconstruction team that was working on US Route 15 near Clear Springs Road in Franklin Township, York County.
Officer Alex I. Sable
York City Police Department
End of Watch: May 9, 2018
Alex I. Sable was born December 4, 1980 in Hoboken, New Jersey.
Officer Sable graduated from Hempfield High School in 1999 and joined the United States Marine Corps in 1998. He was a veteran of the Iraq War, completed two tours in Iraq, and served in the USMC as a Sergeant. He honorably served his country for 9 years. Sable served with the York City Police Department for four years. Sable was married and had three children.
On Sunday, May 6, 2018, Officer Sable was participating in a SWAT school at Community College of Baltimore County-Dundalk Campus in Dundalk, Maryland, hosted by the Baltimore County Police Department.
Officer Andrew W. Duarte
West York Borough Police Department
End of Watch: February 22, 2025
Andrew Duarte was born February 17, 1995 in Oakland, California.
Duarte was a 2013 graduate of Berean Christian High School, Walnut Creek, California and graduated Summa Cum Laude in 2016 from California University of Pennsylvania with a Bachelor's degree in Criminal Justice/Police Science. He served as a seasonal officer with the Ocean City, Maryland Police Department during the summer of 2016. Duarte joined the Denver, Colorado Police Department where he worked from 2017 to 2022. Duarte joined the West York Borough Police Department in Jine of 2022.
On Saturday, February 22, 2025, Officer Duarte was on routine patrol in West York Borough when a call was put out for an armed suspect with hostages and shots fired inside the UPMC Memorial Hospital on Innovation Drive in West Manchester Township.
Detective Sergeant Cody M. Becker
Northern York County Regional Police Department
End of Watch: September 17, 2025
Cody Michael Becker was born September 19, 1985 in Hanover, Pennsylvania.
Detective Sergeant Becker graduated Spring Grove Area High School in 2004, and graduated from Millersville University in 2008. Becker was a three-sport athlete in high school, and was a NCAA Division I East Regional Champion and two-time national qualifier in 2006 and 2007 in wrestling. After graduating college, Detective Sergeant Becker began his career with the Northern York County Regional Police Department. Detective Sergeant Becker was married with two children.
On Wednesday, September 17, 2025, Detective Sergeant Becker was part of a team attempting to serve a warrant at a residence on Haar Road in North Codorus Township from a domestic related incident that occurred the previous day at the property. The team, consisting of five Northern York County Regional Polcie detectives and one York County Deputy Sheriff, were attemping to locate an individual that was stalking a former girlfriend.
Detective Mark E. Baker
Northern York County Regional Police Department
End of Watch: September 17, 2025
Mark Edward Baker was born July 1, 1972 in Chester, Pennsylvania.
Detective Baker proudly served in the United States Army as a Military Police Officer. A graduate of Class 333 of the Philadelphia Police Academy, Baker received the Top Shooter Award for his class. Baker served with the Philadelphia Police Department, and as a York County Detective before serving as a Detective for the Northern York County Regional Police Department for 15 years. Baker was an Eagle Scout, and continued to serve in the Scouting community. Baker was married with five children and two grandchildren.
On Wednesday, September 17, 2025, Detective Baker was part of a team attempting to serve a warrant at a residence on Haar Road in North Codorus Township from a domestic related incident that occurred the previous day at the property. The team, consisting of five Northern York County Regional Polcie detectives and one York County Deputy Sheriff, were attemping to locate an individual that was stalking a former girlfriend.
Detective Isaiah D. Emenheiser
Northern York County Regional Police Department
End of Watch: September 17, 2025
Isaiah D. Emenheiser was born November 19, 1981 in York, Pennsylvania.
Detective Emenheiser graduated the Christian School of York in 2000, and graduated with a degree in Criminal Justice from York College of Pennsylvania. Emenheiser served as a United States Secret Service agent before transitioning to local law enforcement with the Northern York County Regional Police Department. Emenheiser previously served as a Field Training Officer and earned many professional accolades, including the Medal of Merit, the department's second highest honor. Emenheiser was married with two children.
On Wednesday, September 17, 2025, Detective Emenheiser was part of a team attempting to serve a warrant at a residence on Haar Road in North Codorus Township from a domestic related incident that occurred the previous day at the property. The team, consisting of five Northern York County Regional Police detectives and one York County Deputy Sheriff, were attemping to locate an individual that was stalking a former girlfriend.
We gratefully acknowledge the cooperation of the Officer Down Memorial Page, Inc. for providing information on many of the above officers.
