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Your support is important and We thank you for continuing
to support this worthy cause! |
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Honoring his Memory... |
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On June 2, 2008, a group of Pennsylvania
State Troopers along with local officers gathered in a wooded area a short distance off
Rattlesnake Hill Road, in Berks County. They were there to honor one of their own, Tpr.
Philip C. Melley, who, over fifty years ago was fatally shot during a violent
confrontation with a sixteen year old youth. Tpr. David Gecelosky, Troop L, Reading,
recently told us he knew about the murder of Melley for several years and always felt some
effort should be made to honor his memory. |
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Retired state
Trooper Leonard Nebistinsky, left, and Trooper David Gecelosky at the Douglass Township
site where Trooper Philip C. Melley was killed 50 years ago in a standoff with a teenager |
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In November of last year, with help from
retired Cpl. Len Nebistrinsky and a local resident, the spot where Trooper Melley was
killed was found. Nebistinsky, historian and sergeant-at-arms of the Fraternal Order
of Police Lodge No. 65 — the Melley Lodge, named in honor of the slain trooper —
marked the 50th anniversary of Melley’s death by visiting the murder site. He and
lodge President Trooper David Gecelosky placed a photograph of Melley on the tree near the
spot where he was shot. Although Nebistinsky never knew Melley, he has felt a
connection to the man whose death helped inspire him to become a trooper. “I just
felt this was a good way to top it all off by going to the scene where he was
murdered,” said Nebistinsky, who retired in 1996 as a corporal in charge of criminal
investigations at the Schuylkill Haven station. About a year before Melley’s funeral,
Nebistinsky developed a lifelong admiration for the state police that culminated in his
career. |
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Story cont'd in column 3 |
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| PENNSYLVANIA
STATE POLICE HISTORICAL, EDUCATIONAL & MEMORIAL CENTER |
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| Through this web
site, and in particular, this newsletter, we will keep you informed about the Pennsylvania
State Police Historical, Educational and Memorial Center plus other PSP news events. |
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This month we continue our report on the 1937 murder of
Private John Broski. He was the 64th State Trooper killed in the line of duty; and the
first following the merger of the Pennsylvania State Police and, the Pennsylvania Highway
Patrol, less than two month before. The joined agencies became the Pennsylvania Motor
Police.
The week following the murder saw the largest manhunt in the coal regions up to
then. Every police department in northeastern Pennsylvania was involved, along with police
agencies in surrounding states. Information from recent crimes was complied and
description of suspects compared. A request was made of other agencies for any palm prints
held in their records of known criminals. The description of the gunmen in the Broski
murder matched those of the suspects in the Portland House robbery. The same description
matched the suspects in the robbery and kidnapping of the garage employees in
Philadelphia, earlier in the month.
Even as investigators continued working the case a large contingent of law
enforcement officers attended John Broski’s funeral. He was a devoted husband to his
wife Nellie, 39, and a loving father to his three daughters. He was active in the pursuit
of his duties and highly regarded by his fellow Troopers.
A viewing was held in the family home at 82 Mack Street, Wilkes Barre, with
hundreds of people passing through the house to pay their respects. During the Requiem
Mass, later in the day, so many mourners crowded the church that many had to stand
outside. Following the church service Private John Broski was buried at St. Johns Cemetery
in Dallas with military honors.
During the week following the murder several suspects were investigated. Four men,
one suffering a gunshot wound came to the attention of investigators. However, this group
was ruled out as suspects in the Broski murder but, later became the focus of attention in
a bank robbery in the Midwest. Other suspects were tracked down and interrogated. Several
stolen cars were recovered, at least one showing evidence of being used in a robbery. Most
of these leads were discarded and this was surely frustrating to the investigators.
After the shooting Bowers and Andreoli made their way back to Lake Wallenpaupack.
They stayed there for about four days then, probably feeling safe, returned to
Philadelphia. Before they left Bowers threw the shotgun into the lake. Meanwhile the
Philadelphia Police had been gathering information on known persons with a history for
this type of crime. That, along with the descriptions, gave them a good lead on two men,
Horace Bowers and Victor Andreoli, considered to be “quick trigger gunmen.”
Discreet inquiries were probably made about these subjects and, their whereabouts over
this time period.
Caution would be used in dealing with these two. Probably on a Monday, at 4:30 in
the morning, Pennsylvania State Motor Policemen, Sgt. Newman, Privates Jay Milligan and
R.A. Jones, of Troop B, all heavily armed, went to the residence of Victor Andreoli, on
Sunnyside Avenue. A detail of Philadelphia officers and county detectives were also there.
A rapid entry was made into the house. Both Andreoli and Bowers were found inside. Before
any resistance could be offered both were taken into custody. Andreoli almost immediately
yelled out, “I didn’t do it, Bowers had the gun.”
It was about eight days following John Broski’s murder that the killers were
captured. They were transported to the Philadelphia Police headquarters first, then later
in the day, to Troop B, Wyoming, under a heavy guard.
Visit John J. Broske Memorial
| Read Part1 |
| (Courtesy of Tpr. Jack Haase,
PSP ret. "Retirees' Scoops") |
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CURRENT EXHIBITS
(Mini-Museum) View Tour Promo |
We currently have PSP historical exhibits at
HEMC. Tours of the "Mini-Museum" are free and scheduled by calling PSP-HEMC. The
Mini-Museum provides only a small glimpse of what the future museum will be like when
completed. Contributions are still needed to help build the actual center.
exhibit page. |
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| Learn about President Theodore
Roosevelt's visit to the Wyoming Barracks in 1910. |
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The National Troopers
coalition picnic is being hosted this year by the Pennsylvania State Troopers association
on Thursday, September 18, 2008, starting at 11:00 AM to 7:00 PM. The event will be held
at the Mechanicsburg Club, in Silver Spring Township, Cumberland County. A golf tournament
is planned along with horse shoes and weight lifting competition. Each state association
in attendance will be provided a complimentary site on the grounds. Vendors will be
requested to donate to the Troopers Helping Troopers foundation in lieu of a site fee. A
opening procession will be held, and the PSP has been invited to participate. There are a
150 members, representing 40 states, that are in the dissemination group providing
information about this event. You may sign up at, Ntcpicnic@psta.org.
More information... Click here! |
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Tours
If you are interested in touring the Mini-museum please contact us.
For details... Click here! |
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have an enjoyable and pleasant experience when visiting us... just like we will offer to
the visitors of the center when it's complete. |
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View Top column |
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Column 2
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Archectural Rendering of PSP-HEMC |
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Active, Retired, Family and Friends can help
with the ongoing efforts to establish the Pennsylvania State Police Museum.
In the 2004 Capital Budget monies were set aside for the development of this
museum. Members are requesting you take a moment and sign the on-line petition for
the release of these funds.
Through everyones help this project can move forward.
Major Matthew Hunt, PSP retired
Sign the Petition
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Honoring his Memory...
cont'd from column 1
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Trooper. Philip C. Melley |
This past year,
both active and retired members of FOP Lodge 65, whole-heartedly supported a plan to honor
this deceased Trooper. With funds from their annual golf tournament and yearly dues, the
Lodge, which is named in honor of Philip C. Melley, purchased and had engraved a Memorial
stone. The placing of this stone was the reason these officers came together early this
summer. David Gecelosky, President of the Lodge, say’s that The Memorial was placed
where “Tpr. Melley performed his last act as a Pennsylvania State Trooper. They
wanted to honor his sacrifice...he did not swerve from his duty.” The engraved
granite stone reads “SOLDIER OF THE LAW-TPR PHILIP C. MELLEY-PENNSYLVANIA STATE
POLICE-KILLED IN THE LINE OF DUTY-THIS SITE-NOV. 3, 1957” The land where the stone is
set has been in the same family for over a hundred years. Mr. Grant Yerby, the property
owner, has promised to have a condition attached to the deed that the stone cannot be
removed.
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| The information for this item came from the June 7, 2008, Pottstown
Mercury news paper report and a conversation with David Gecelosky. For more information on
the shooting of Tpr. Philip Melley visit either the HEMC MEMORIAL page
or PSTA website Memorials. |
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The
Oral History Project is looking for individuals in the northwest, northeast and central
regions of the state of Pennsylvania who would be interested in conducting interviews with
chosen Pennsylvania State Police retiree narrators. The volunteeer interviewers would be
trained in conducting Oral Histories and would be compensated for their mileage and meals
during the interview sessions. We are looking for individuals who want to preserve the
history and heritage of the Pennsylvania State Police.
Get Oral History
Details
If you are interested or would like more information please contact Kim Cady at the
Pennsylvania State Police Historical, Educational and Memorial Center (PSP-HEMC) at (717)
534-0565 or send us an e-mail. |
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| Please do
not send or submit items for the State Police Center to individuals who claim to be from
the H.E.M.C. You can call the office at 1-717-534-0565 to check on who is authorized
to accept items on behalf of the museum portion of the Center. |
PSP-HEMC
HOURS |
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The Pa State Police H.E.M.C. Operations offices are in Hershey, Pa at 187
East Hershey Park Drive. Office hours may vary at times but generally, you can reach
us Monday thru Friday 8:00am to 5:30pm.
May 17th thru Sept. 13th, Museum is open on Saturday's
from 9:00am-3:00pm
If
you are traveling from a distance, call ahead! (We are closed Saturdays, Sundays and
for state holidays, and occasionally we are closed if out of town doing a
show). You can reach us or leave a message at phone 717-534-0565, or e-mail, psphemc@gmail.com
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