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Incident
Chief of Police Ray Curwood succumbed to gunshot wounds sustained six days earlier while attempting to disarm a man at the Mountain Inn Hotel on Union Street in Shickshinny.
At 6:30 pm, Chief Curwood went to arrest the subject for making threats toward his family members with a gun the man had just purchased. As soon as he approached the subject, Chief Curwood was shot twice in the abdomen. He was transported to Nanticoke State Hospital, where he succumbed to his wounds.
The 34-year-old suspect was convicted of first-degree murder and sentenced to death. On October 16, 1918, he died in the Luzerne County Jail of tuberculosis.
Chief Curwood had served with the Shickshinny Borough Police Department for seven years.
Survivors
He was survived by his wife and two children.
In Our Keeping
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- August 2, 2026
- Last updated
- August 2, 2026
Honored here by 1 tribute.
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Tributes
I never knew you. I am standing here anyway.
Chief of Police Curwood gave the Shickshinny Borough Police Department 7 years.
Thank you for your service to the Shickshinny community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Chief of Police Curwood.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
The Sacrifice · Felonious
Ray is the only officer of Shickshinny Borough Police Department remembered here.
Ray is one of 598 officers killed feloniously in PA, 47.4% of the 1,262 remembered there.
Ray is one of 15,742 officers killed feloniously in the United States, 57.1% of the 27,551 remembered there.
Ray is one of 17,622 officers killed feloniously worldwide, 51.7% of the 34,102 remembered here.
34,102 officers are remembered on this memorial. Each number below is one of them.
Time
In 1918, 16 officers in PA were killed feloniously, more than in any other year.
In 1918, 165 officers in the United States were killed feloniously, the 19th heaviest of 213 years on record. The heaviest was 1921, with 248.
In 1918, 169 officers worldwide were killed feloniously, the 24th heaviest of 265 years on record. The heaviest was 1921, with 516.
Who
Ray was 27. Of the 585 killed feloniously in PA whose age is recorded, half were between 30 and 46; the middle age was 37. Ray had served 7 years; the middle length of service was 7 years.
Ray was 27. Of the 14,219 killed feloniously in the United States whose age is recorded, half were between 31 and 47; the middle age was 38. Ray had served 7 years; the middle length of service was 6 years.
Ray was 27. Of the 15,853 killed feloniously worldwide whose age is recorded, half were between 30 and 46; the middle age was 38. Ray had served 7 years; the middle length of service was 6 years.
When
February holds 7.4% of these deaths in PA; September holds the most, 10.5%. Mondays: 14.5%.
February holds 7.4% of these deaths in the United States; December holds the most, 9.4%. Mondays: 13.8%.
February holds 7.4% of these deaths worldwide; December holds the most, 9.2%. Mondays: 13.8%.
How
Felonious deaths account for 100% of all 1 deaths at Shickshinny Borough Police Department. The weapon recorded was handgun, in 100% of these deaths.
Felonious deaths account for 47.4% of all 1,262 deaths in PA, the most common cause. The weapon recorded was handgun, in 27.3% of these deaths.
Felonious deaths account for 57.1% of all 27,551 deaths in the United States, the most common cause. The weapon recorded was handgun, in 23.4% of these deaths.
Felonious deaths account for 51.7% of all 34,102 deaths worldwide, the most common cause. The weapon recorded was handgun, in 20.9% of these deaths.
Where
Where the Name Is Cut
National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial · Panel 5-E
What is kept
Photographs, film, sound and papers — what survived a life.
Others Who Wore This Badge
0 officers from Shickshinny Borough Police Department are honored on badge.nw.