Roll of Honor
Incident
Patrolman DeRubbo suffered a fatal heart attack following an emergency response involving an ill woman.
He and another officer were sent to the woman's residence on a welfare check. Patrolman DeRubbo then drove the woman from her residence to Pittsburgh Hospital in the city of Pittsburgh for approximately three miles at emergency speeds and through rush hour traffic. As Patrolman DeRubbo and his partner returned to their patrol car he suffered a fatal heart attack in the driver's seat. Help was summoned and he was taken into the emergency room where he was pronounced dead.
Patrolman DeRubbo was survived by his wife and three kids. He was a well known football player in the area and had previously served with the Rankin Borough Police Department. He was seriously wounded in a shooting with a suspicious person on October 3rd, 1928, while serving as a Rankin Police officer.
Survivors
Patrolman DeRubbo was survived by his wife and three kids.
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
BO-US-PA-683D7969- 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.
Are you family? This record can be claimed and maintained by those who knew John. Claim this record.
This page is permanent and free. No fee to view it, no advertising, no tracking, and no account required. It will not be taken down.
Tributes
I never knew you. I am standing here anyway.
Patrolman DeRubbo served with the Swissvale Borough Police Department.
Thank you for your service to the Pittsburgh community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Patrolman DeRubbo.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
Patrolman John Simon DeRubbo is one of 1,306 officers lost to cardiac events in the line of duty across the full record of this memorial — 4% of all 32,508 officers honored here.
In PA, 118 of 1,261 officers were lost to cardiac events in the line of duty — 9.4% of this state's fallen. That is 5.4 percentage points above the national rate of 4%.
At Swissvale Borough Police Department, 2 of 3 officers on record were lost to cardiac events in the line of duty — 66.7% of this agency's fallen.
National Cause Distribution
How Cardiac compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. John Simon DeRubbo's cause is highlighted.
How John Simon DeRubbo Compares
When Cardiac Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Cardiac deaths across the full memorial record. John Simon DeRubbo is highlighted in Dec.
Incident Location
Others Who Wore This Badge
2 officers from Swissvale Borough Police Department are honored on badge.nw.
