Officer Killed In The Line Of Duty Recognized 78 Years Later

PITTSBURGH (KDKA) – It's an annual event at the law enforcement officers' memorial on the North Shore.

Every year, dozens of police officers and their families gather to honor 148 patrolmen killed in the line of duty in Allegheny County.

"Police officers have to understand, police officers' families have to understand every day they put their uniforms on and go to work, they may not be coming home," said Cmdr. Donna Best with the Allegheny County Sheriff's Department.

In 1937, railway officer George Huff never came home to his family. He was killed in the line of duty while riding his motorcycle.

"He had a hit and run driver out on Route 19, towards West View and he went over the guardrail, over the hill and laid in the hospital for five days and died," said his daughter Ethel Mastroianni.

His daughters attended the ceremony, one is 92 and the other is 84 years old. They remember the day their father never came home.

"He came every Wednesday night, he came up to the church to make sure we all got home safe, but he never showed up that night," said Audrey Latshaw, his other daughter.

George Huff is one of 21 local police officers recognized for their time for making the ultimate sacrifice.

"It's awesome to finally have the recognition for their family, his name is on the wall in DC this year and eventually it will be on our wall," said Best.

His daughters say he was the first officer to talk about safety in schools. His grandchildren and great grandchildren also attended the ceremony.

"We're just so proud that it's getting done after 78 years and there's a lot of us here," Ethel said.

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