Roll of Honor
Incident
Corporal John Valent was shot and killed while transporting three suspects to Lewistown Station after stopping them. The three suspects had no identification and claimed to be from out of state. While driving to the station, only a quarter-mile from where he stopped them, one of the three suspects shot him in the back of the head. One of the suspects was shot and killed the following day, and the other two were arrested and charged with Corporal Valent's murder. The two served ten years under a plea bargain. Corporal Valent was a U.S. Navy veteran of World War II and had served with the Pennsylvania State Police for 25 years. He was survived by his wife and three children. A portion of Pennsylvania Route 22 in Mifflin County was renamed the Corporal John S. Valent Memorial Highway.
Survivors
He was survived by his wife and three children.
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
BO-US-PA-47C277B2- Stewardship
- Maintained by NeuraWeb Global Inc.
- Added to badge.nw
- August 2, 2026
- Last updated
- August 2, 2026
Honored here by 1 tribute.
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Also honored at salute.nw — U.S. Navy. One record, 2 gates. John is one person.
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Tributes
I served 1985 to 1993. You served too, before the badge - different uniform, same idea. You go where you are sent and you do not get to pick the call.
Corporal Valent gave the Pennsylvania State Police 25 years.
Thank you for your service to the people of Pennsylvania, and for your service before it. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, brother.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
Military Service
John Severin Valent served in the U.S. Navy before joining law enforcement.
Corporal John Severin Valent is one of 1 officers killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty across the full record of this memorial — 0% of all 97,759 officers honored here.
In PA, 597 of 1,261 officers were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 47.3% of this state's fallen. That is 47.3 percentage points above the national rate of 0%.
At Pennsylvania State Police, 34 of 87 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 39.1% of this agency's fallen.
National Cause Distribution
How Felonious compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. John Severin Valent's cause is highlighted.
How John Severin Valent Compares
When Felonious Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. John Severin Valent is highlighted in Dec.
Weapons Used Against Officers
Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. John Severin Valent was killed by gun.
Incident Location
Military Service
John Severin Valent served in the U.S. Navy before joining law enforcement.
Visit John Severin Valent’s page on salute.nw →
His full service record — units, decorations, where he served — is kept on salute.nw.
Others Who Wore This Badge
86 officers from Pennsylvania State Police are honored on badge.nw. Showing the 16 most recent.
