Roll of Honor
Incident
Patrolman Joseph Zanella was shot and killed when he stopped a jail escapee in a stolen car at the intersection of Allegheny River Boulevard and Plum Street in Oakmont Borough. As Patrolman Zanella got out of his patrol car, he was shot twice by the suspect, who was sitting inside the car he had stolen. The first shot struck a cement wall behind Patrolman Zanella. The second shot struck Patrolman Zanella in the heart, killing him. The suspect had escaped a week earlier from the Allegheny County Work House, where he was awaiting sentence for raping a 17-year-old girl. Soon after he killed Patrolman Zanella, the suspect abandoned his car in a department store parking lot in LeVale, Maryland. Later a 21-year-old woman and her 2-year-old daughter, who had been shopping at that store, were reported missing. The suspect told the police that he kidnapped and killed them. He said he left their bodies in Ohio and Kansas. He was never charged with their murders. The woman and her daughter were never found. He was recaptured in Iowa three weeks later. The suspect was convicted of murdering Patrolman Zanella and sent to Western Penitentiary. On December 10, 1973, the suspect, along with three other inmates, attacked and beat to death Captain Walter Peterson of the Pennsylvania Department of Corrections. On December 6, 1978, the suspect hanged himself in his cell. Patrolman Zanella was a United States Army Veteran of the Vietnam War, a Verona Firefighter, and had served with the Verona Police Department for nearly two and a half years.
Survivors
He was survived by his wife, son, daughter, parents, and siblings.
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
BO-US-PA-39B8A1CC- 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 Zanella gave the Verona Borough Police Department 2 years.
Thank you for your service to the Verona community, 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
Joseph Paul Zanella served in the United States military before joining law enforcement. Full service record available on salute.nw.
Patrolman Joseph Paul Zanella 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%.
At Verona Borough Police Department, 2 of 3 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 66.7% of this agency's fallen.
National Cause Distribution
How Felonious compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. Joseph Paul Zanella's cause is highlighted.
How Joseph Paul Zanella Compares
Offender Outcome
stolen vehicle
When Felonious Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. Joseph Paul Zanella is highlighted in Sep.
Weapons Used Against Officers
Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. Joseph Paul Zanella was killed by handgun; .25 caliber.
Incident Location
Others Who Wore This Badge
2 officers from Verona Borough Police Department are honored on badge.nw.
