4 YEARS AGO TODAY, 6/23/03,

OUR FEARS BECAME REALITY:

We, the family of Rodney Fredderick Pocceschi, suffered a traumatic loss.  Life goes on, but for us, time will never heal our pain.  We miss him, we remember him, we long for him....every minute, every hour, every day.

Details:

Officer Rodney Fredderick Pocceschi, age 33, was shot and killed while making a traffic stop on Dam Neck Rd. at 0324 hours.

After the vehicle was stopped, the driver LeKeith Speller, a 6 time convicted felon, opened fire, striking Officer Pocceschi.  The suspect and Officer Pocceschi were fatally wounded in the ensuing exchange of gunfire.  Officer Pocceschi stopped Speller's vehicle for a traffic violation, and apparently didn't know that Speller and his passenger, Shawn Anthony Zhe, had just robbed an IHOP.

A juvenile who was returning from a fishing trip, observed Officer Pocceschi in the roadway and stopped to render assistance.  He flagged down another officer who was responding to a robbery call.  Officer  Pocceschi was transported to Virginia Beach General Hospital where he succumbed to his wounds approximately 40 minutes later.

The criminal who shot and killed Officer Pocceschi could have been in jail on June 23, the day of the shooting.  According to Virginia Pilot newspaper reports:  LeKeith Speller had six felony convictions, including burglary, attempted burglary and attempted grand larceny -- but despite his record, he was still on the streets.  In 2002, Speller, was indicted by a Virginia Beach grand jury for assaulting a Virginia police officer and leading the police on a car chase.  He was released after posting a $1,000 bond in February and received a 21 month sentence for the assault, resisting arrest and two traffic offenses.

But Speller didn't serve time behind bars because he appealed his case.  And because of Virginia law, if a suspect is out on bond and gets convicted and appeals, he doesn't have to go to jail.

On May 5 Speller failed to appear in court and a judge issued a warrant for his arrest and a separate probation violation.  Since he was 15, Speller has been in trouble with the law.  His juvenile record shows convistions for larceny, attempted robbery and auto theft.  By age 18, he racked up more property crime convictions, never serving more than a year in jail!!!!!

Shawn Anthony Zhe and Christina Marie Tatem each faced charges of robbery, conspiracy to commit a robbery and using a firearm during a felony. 

Unfortunately, due to our Justice System, they will only serve a few years.  We, the family, the innocent, will serve a life sentence!  In my opinion, they deserve the life sentence because they assisted.  Virginia should have a 3 strike rule and should not allow convicts out of jail because they appeal their case, especially if there has been prior charges or convictions!

Rodney grew up in Luzerne County, PA, and graduated from Pittston Area High School in 1988.   He attended Bloomsburg University and studied criminal justice.  He graduated in 1992 and started his career working for the Bloomsburg University Police Dept. and Nescopeck Police Department.

IN MEMORY OF

FALLEN OFFICER RODNEY F. POCCESCHI

9/17/69-EOW 6/23/03