Sheridan O. Caton
Agency patch
Chief of Police

Sheridan O. Caton

Elk Lick Township Police Department — West Salisbury, PA
Accident
End of Watch July 11, 2004
Age 60
Tour of Duty 40 yrs
The Vigil Panel 152 ›
Gender Male

Incident

Chief Sheridan Caton was killed when his patrol car was struck by another vehicle while he was engaged in a pursuit.

Chief Caton was assisting the Confluence Police Department and the Summit Township Police Department during a pursuit. Approximately nine minutes into the pursuit, the Confluence officer lost sight of the suspect's vehicle. Chief Caton was traveling on Listonburg Road in Addison Township when a vehicle struck his vehicle at a high rate of speed. Chief Caton was killed in the collision.

In June 2007, the suspect was convicted of charges in connection with Chief Caton's death and sentenced to 3 to 10 years in prison.

Chief Caton had served with the Elk Lick Township Police Department for 10 years and had previously served with the Myersdale Police Department for 30 years.

Chief Caton was assisting the Confluence Police Department and the Summit Township Police Department during a pursuit. Approximately nine minutes into the pursuit, the Confluence officer lost sight of the suspect's vehicle. Chief Caton was traveling on Listonburg Road in Addison Township when a vehicle struck his vehicle at a high rate of speed. Chief Caton was killed in the collision.

Survivors

He is survived by his son, daughter, four grandchildren, five sisters, and two brothers.

In Our Keeping

Permanent identifier
BO-US-PA-2A12AF86
Stewardship
Maintained by NeuraWeb Global Inc.
Added to badge.nw
April 2, 2026
Last updated
July 23, 2026

Honored here by 1 sentinel - 1 tribute.

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Tributes

40 years. You could have gone home.
Chief of Police Caton gave the Elk Lick Township Police Department 40 years. Still answering calls at the end.
Thank you for your service to the West Salisbury community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Chief of Police Caton.

— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993

Agency

Location West Salisbury, PA
Platform Identity elklpd.somerset.pa.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch July 11, 2004
Tour of Duty 40 yrs
Age 60
Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Accident
Cause Detail Vehicle pursuit
Weapon Automobile
Offender Sentenced to 10 years

Chief of Police Sheridan O. Caton is one of 10,088 officers lost to accidents in the line of duty across the full record of this memorial — 31% of all 32,508 officers honored here.

In PA, 417 of 1,261 officers were lost to accidents in the line of duty — 33.1% of this state's fallen. That is 2.1 percentage points above the national rate of 31%.

Elk Lick Township Police Department
1
of 1 officers
100% Accident
PA — Statewide
417
of 1,261 officers
33.1% Accident
Nationwide
10,088
of 32,508 officers
31% Accident

National Cause Distribution

How Accident compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. Sheridan O. Caton's cause is highlighted.

Felonious
17,623 (54.2%)
Accident
10,088 (31%)
Illness
2,974 (9.1%)
Cardiac
1,306 (4%)
Undetermined
260 (0.8%)
Suicide
256 (0.8%)
vehicular
1 (0%)

How Sheridan O. Caton Compares

Age at End of Watch
60
This officer
Avg for Accident: 38.1 years
Years of Service
40
This officer
Avg for Accident: 9.1 years

Offender Outcome

Sentenced to 10 years

When Accident Deaths Occur

Monthly distribution of Accident deaths across the full memorial record. Sheridan O. Caton is highlighted in Jul.

Jan
820
Feb
730
Mar
748
Apr
707
May
847
Jun
795
Jul
897
Aug
937
Sep
913
Oct
925
Nov
872
Dec
897