Patrolman Alje Savela was shot and killed while making a traffic stop on Route 122 in the Town of Barre at 2020 hours. A farmer heard several gun shots and found Patrolman Savela's body with seven 9 mm gunshot wounds.
One of the suspects in the case later shot and killed Assistant Superintendent James Godwin, of the Florida Department of Corrections, during an escape attempt on April 4, 1955. The suspect died in prison.
Patrolman Savela had served with the agency for 4 years and was assigned to A Troop.
