Corporal Thomas DeRue was shot and killed while responding to an armed robbery-in-progress call.

   As he arrived on the scene the suspect exited Jennifer's, a women's apparel store, and shot him before he could exit his patrol car. He died shortly after arriving at Memorial Hospital having been shot with a revolver in the chest and abdomen.

   The 22-year-old male suspect was subsequently found guilty of second-degree murder by a jury and sentenced to life in prison. On appeal, his sentenced was later reduced to 15 to 25 years and he was released in 1987.

   Corporal DeRue was survived by his expectant wife and parents.