Roll of Honor

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Patrolman

Joseph Yazvac

Sharon Police Department — Sharon, PA

Felonious

End of Watch December 21, 1926

Age 23

Tour of Duty 2 yrs

Badge 14

The Vigil Panel 52 ›

Gender Male

Incident Service The Sacrifice Department 1

Incident

Patrolman Yazvac was killed he was intentionally rammed into a fire hydrant while riding on the running board of a vehicle. He had been on patrol in downtown Sharon when he observed a suspicious vehicle. When he jumped on the running board the driver of the vehicle drove off and struck the fire hydrant at the intersection of South Irvine Avenue and Washington Street. The driver and front seat passenger of the vehicle were then killed when the vehicle struck a utility pole. Patrolman Yazvac had served with the agency for 2 years.

In Our Keeping

Permanent identifier: BO-US-PA-787EBBD6
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 never knew you. I am standing here anyway.
Patrolman Yazvac gave the Sharon Police Department 2 years.
Thank you for your service to the Sharon community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Patrolman Yazvac.

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

Agency

Department Sharon Police Department

Location Sharon, PA

Platform Identity spd.mercer.pa.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch December 21, 1926

Tour of Duty 2 yrs

Age 23

Badge Number 14

Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious

Weapon Automobile

Offender Killed in vehicle crash

Patrolman Joseph Yazvac 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 Sharon Police Department, 1 of 2 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 50% of this agency's fallen.

Sharon Police Department

of 2 officers

50% Felonious

PA — Statewide

597

of 1,261 officers

47.3% Felonious

Nationwide

17,623

of 32,508 officers

54.2% Felonious

National Cause Distribution

How Felonious compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. Joseph Yazvac'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 Joseph Yazvac Compares

Age at End of Watch

This officer

Avg for Felonious: 39.0 years

Years of Service

This officer

Avg for Felonious: 8.5 years

Offender Outcome

Killed in vehicle crash

When Felonious Deaths Occur

Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. Joseph Yazvac is highlighted in Dec.

Jan

1,392

Feb

1,295

Mar

1,373

Apr

1,517

May

1,505

Jun

1,443

Jul

1,587

Aug

1,516

Sep

1,553

Oct

1,371

Nov

1,447

Dec

1,624

Weapons Used Against Officers

Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. Joseph Yazvac was killed by automobile.

Gun; Unknown type

5,083

Handgun

2,077

Shotgun

922

Officer's handgun

909

Automobile; Alcohol involved

530

Rifle

518

Others Who Wore This Badge

1 officer from Sharon Police Department are honored on badge.nw.