Police Officer Joseph Paul Zanella Verona Police Department, Pennsylvania End of Watch: Friday, September 19, 1969 Age: 25 Badge Number: NA Years on The Job: 2 years, 6 months Cause of Death: Shot and killed   Born February 24,1944 Officer 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. The suspect, Stanley Hoss, had escaped a week earlier from the Allegheny County Work House where he was awaiting sentence for raping a 17 year-old girl. He was recaptured in Iowa three weeks later. Hoss was convicted of murdering Officer Zanella and sent to Western Penitentiary. On December 10, 1973, Hoss along with three other inmates attacked and beat to death Captain Walter Peterson, of the Pennsylvania Department of Corrections. On December 6, 1978, Hoss hanged himself in his cell. Soon after he killed Officer Zanella, Hoss 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. Hoss told the police that he kidnapped and killed them. He said he left their bodies in Ohio and Kansas. Hoss was never charged with their murders. The woman and her daughter were never found. Officer Zanella was a Vietnam War veteran and had served with the Verona Police Department for 2.5 years. He was survived by his wife, son, parents, and siblings. Related Line of Duty Deaths Captain Walter L. Peterson Pennsylvania Department of Corrections, PA EOW: Monday, December 10, 1973 Cause of Death: Assault   Agency Information   Submit a Condolences Subscribe to Officer Down E-Mail Alerts Walk tall, walk tall and protect us from above with honor and dignity. May you lead the charge for citizens right in heaven as you did here on earth Darrell Thompson Privet Security Officer St. Clair Co. MI, Community College Campus Patrol #14 darrell@policespecial.com www.sc4.edu Rest in peace, and may God allow him to keep watch over us on earth while he patrols his beat in heaven. Our prayers go out to the Officer and his Department and family. May they all find peace in their hearts soon. From all the Staff at Police Special Inc. Contact us to have information posted or if you have any info pertaining to already posted information. Please contact a Police Special Inc. or Fax to 866-809-5551  Contact us