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2 JV. Y. City Men HeldIn Death Of TrooperCANASTOTA, N Y. (AP)-A veteran state trooper was shot to death Thursday while investigating a routine traffic infraction on the New York State Thruway.Two New York City men were arrested a short distance away from the death scene and arraigned on murder charges late Thursday night.Emerson J. Dillon, 38, of Phoenix, N.Y., became the first state trooper killed in the line of duty since Sept. 1 when death became legal punishment for convicted police killersThe father of six children was the third trooper in the state to die while on duty this year.John E. Ruzas 31, of Queens, and Robert L Donovan. 48, of Brooklyn, were arraigned here in Lennox Town Court before Judge Michael Perretta on murder charges They were held in the Madison County Jail after their arraignment.Dillon was shot twice in the chest after he apparently stopped an auto on a minor infraction, according to State Police Maj Robert Charland, the officer heading the investigation.The 16-year veteran of thestate Police was apparentlyunaware that the car he had stopped was wanted in connection with the earlier robbery of Leonard's Jewiery Store in DeWitt, Charland said.Dillon fired two shots beforernllan«;ina Onr shot went as-tray. The other shot struck the fugitives’ car, troopers said.Ruzas and Donovan were arrested near Sherrill by three rifle-carrying policemen who halted the taxi the pair had boarded after allegedly stealing three cars andspeeding through a Thruwayexit without paying their to after the robbery and Dillon’s killing, troopers said.A possible third suspect was still being sought late Thursday.Ruzas and Donovan were scheduled to return to Perretta ’s courtroom today for a hearing.Services will be at 9 a.m.Monday at the Allanson-Glanville-Tappan FuneralHome, Phoenix, and at 9:30a m. in St. Stephen’s CatholicChurch where Msgr. Robert F.Lavin will celebrate a Mass ofthe Resurrection. Burial will bein Phoenix Rural Cemetery.Calling hours will be 7 to 9p.m. Saturday and 2 to 4 and 7 to 9 p.m Sunday at the funeralhome. 919 Main St., Phoenix.Contributions fora memorial inhis name may be made to theEmerson J. Dillon Junior HighSchool.Troopei Dillon resided atHilltop Drive, Phoenix. He was bom in Syracuse May 28. 1936. son of Eleanor Baker Dillon and the late Dr. Emerson J. Dillon. He was a graduate of Phoenix High School, class of1964 and was aDDOinted to theEMERSON DILLONNew York State Police in May, 1958 He was a graduate of the New York State PoliceAcademy.He was a communicant of St.Stephen's Catholic Church and a member of the Phoenix Rod and Gun ClubSurviving are his wife, Mrs. June Nelson Dillon; four daughters, Colleen, Anne, Kathleen and Patricia two sons, Emerson J. Ill and Michael, all at home; his mother. Mrs. Eleanor Dillon; hi* titter Mrs. Daniel Davenport of Liverpool, and several aunts, uncles and nephews
Newspaper Details
Oswego Palladium Times
Oswego, New York, US
Fri, Oct 25, 1974
Page 1
Full Page
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WA, USA 18 Nov 2018
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