Roll of Honor
Incident
Patrolman Curtis Sowers was shot and killed as he and other area law enforcement officers attempted to arrest a man wanted for stealing two calves.
An arrest warrant had been issued for the man six months earlier, but the man fled to Virginia to avoid arrest. The suspect eventually returned to York County and threatened to kill anyone who attempted to arrest him.
A local constable received information that the man was at his father's home in the Bald Hills area of York County. When the officers arrived, Patrolman Sowers covered the back door as the other officers went to the front door. When they knocked on the door, the man attempted to flee out the back but was confronted by Patrolman Sowers. The man opened fire with a shotgun, striking Patrolman Sowers in the face and killing him instantly.
The subject escaped but was arrested five days later by state troopers when he returned to the house in an attempt to get food. He was convicted of first-degree murder and sentenced to life at hard labor. He was paroled in 1940 and returned to Eastern Penitentiary in 1950 for violating his parole. He applied for a parole in 1957.
Patrolman Sowers was a U.S. Army veteran of WWI. He had served with the North York Police Department for just under two years.
Survivors
He was survived by his wife.
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
BO-US-PA-2FCD29EB- 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
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.
Patrolman Sowers gave the North York Borough Police Department 2 years.
Thank you for your service to the North York community. Thank you 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
Curtis D. Sowers served in the United States military before joining law enforcement. Full service record available on salute.nw.
Patrolman Curtis D. Sowers is one of 17,623 officers killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty across the full record of this memorial — 54.2% of all 32,508 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 6.9 percentage points below the national rate of 54.2%.
National Cause Distribution
How Felonious compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. Curtis D. Sowers's cause is highlighted.
How Curtis D. Sowers Compares
Offender Outcome
Sentenced to life
When Felonious Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. Curtis D. Sowers is highlighted in May.
Weapons Used Against Officers
Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. Curtis D. Sowers was killed by shotgun.