Video: Questions Surround Death of PA Corrections Officer
On Sept. 17 at 1:30 p.m. Weaver, 59, with 13 years on the job, was guarding dozens of inmates in an outdoor yard. Suddenly he fell backwards, striking his head against a concrete wall. He was working alone.

The grieving widow of a Pennsylvania corrections officer fears she may never know what happened to her husband, gravely injured inside the walls of one of the state's toughest prisons.
David Weaver's job was to patrol the toughest blocks in the state. Weaver was a prison guard in Pennsylvania's "big house," State Correctional Institute (SCI) Graterford, a maximum-security prison.
It was where he fell from injuries which later took his life.
"It's five weeks today, so it's still very fresh, very raw," said an emotional Tara Weaver.
On Sept. 17 at 1:30 p.m. Weaver, 59, with 13 years on the job, was guarding dozens of inmates in an outdoor yard. Suddenly he fell backwards, striking his head against a concrete wall. He was working alone so there were no witnesses other than inmates. There were also no surveillance cameras at the site.
According to an autopsy, his skull was fractured and the hemorrhaging was extensive.
Asked why Weaver was alone in the yard, the Department of Corrections wrote, "Officer Weaver was stationed in a single-officer post. All of the DOC institutions have single-officer posts. This is not uncommon."
Jason Bloom, president of the Pennsylvania State Corrections Officers Association (PSCOA), told Fox 29. "In my 24 years of doing corrections, I have never walked in a yard by myself."
Bloom says single-officer posts make guards sitting targets.
The case is reportedly under investigation by the state police.
More Patrol

Police & Fire Championships Expands Athlete Eligibility
The US Police & Fire Championships is now open to all employees – sworn, civilian, administrative, technical, and support staff – who work directly for an eligible public safety agency.
Read More →Tips for Watching the Hands
How can officers better “watch the hands”? Mike Willis, Law Enforcement National Training and Program Director for the US Deputy Sheriff's Association, shares some tips.
Read More →10 Tips for Felony/High-Risk Stops
What steps can officers take to stay safer during felony or high-risk vehicle stops? Here are 10 tips from Mike Willis, Law Enforcement National Training and Program Director for the US Deputy Sheriff's Association.
Read More →
Amped Highlights Power Behind Amped FIVE Software
Amped FIVE empowers you to advance your investigations with confidence and precision, from the crime scene all the way to the courtroom.
Read More →
Police K-9 Killed, Suspect Dies in Shootout with Cops
A Burbank Police Department K-9 was fatally shot over the weekend by a passenger who fled on foot from a traffic stop. The armed suspect was killed in a shootout with officers.
Read More →From the Show Floor: InVeris
In this video, learn about how InVeris provides training to law enforcement, including customized augmented reality scenarios. The augmented reality system can scan up to 10,000 square feet of real-life environments and create a curriculum based on those spaces.
Read More →From the Show Floor: Polaris Government & Defense
Learn about Polaris Government & Defense in this video as POLICE visits their show booth to discover their side-by-sides and the advantages they provide for agencies.
Read More →
2026 Ford Pro™ Police & Special Service Vehicles Guide is Available for Download
Ford Pro™ meets the needs of law-enforcement agencies
Read More →
Dashcam Video Shows Officers Rescue Man from Burning Car
Dashcam video released by a New Jersey police department shows two of its officers rescuing an unconscious man from a burning car after a crash.
Read More →
Aimpoint COA optic + A-CUT Named Red Dot of the Year
The Aimpoint COA optic + A-CUT system has been named Red Dot of the Year by Guns & Ammo magazine. The new optic system was introduced in January 2025.
Read More →
