In the small community of Shamokin Dam, Pennsylvania, a young man's life was tragically cut short in an act of senseless violence. Charles E. Attig Jr., a male police officer in his mid-twenties, was a dedicated public servant, known for his commitment to the community and his role as a mentor to local youth. A United States Army veteran, he had been with the Shamokin Dam Borough Police Department for three years, where he was regarded not just as a great officer, but as a great person.
On the night of June 10, 1983, while on duty, Attig was shot and killed. The perpetrator was a man angered over a traffic ticket he had received earlier that evening from the police chief. Seeking revenge, the man returned with a rifle, intending to harm the chief. Instead, he encountered Officer Attig, who was in the process of issuing a littering citation to another motorist on North Old Trail. Mistaking Attig for the chief, the man opened fire, striking the young officer three times.
The suspect, identified as Dean Troutman, who was 31 years old at the time, was apprehended shortly after the shooting. During questioning, he admitted that he had been looking for the police chief and had shot Officer Attig in a case of mistaken identity. Troutman was subsequently charged with first-degree murder. Following a trial, he was convicted and sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole.
The death of Officer Attig sent shockwaves through the close-knit community. His funeral was attended by a vast outpouring of family, friends, and fellow law enforcement officers from Pennsylvania and surrounding states. In the years that followed, his memory has been kept alive. A portion of U.S. Routes 11 and 15 was named in his honor, and the mayor of Shamokin Dam declared the 30th anniversary of his death as 'Officer Charles Attig Memorial Day.' His family, including his mother Rosa, has found comfort in the enduring support of the community.
