Camden County Record - July 10, 1969

Funeral Rites Held For Cops Killed By Gunman

Funeral services for two rookie Camden policemen gunned down in a senseless killing early last Saturday morning, July 5, were held for one Wednesday and the other will be held today.

The double tragedy occurred when the two policemen were felled by shotgun blasts shortly after midnight as they responded to the first trouble call of their 12 a.m. to 8 a.m. tour of duty. 

Dead are Patrolman George E. Schultz Jr., 26, of 1104 South Merrimac Road, and Charles Sutman, 21, of 237 South 35th Street, who both joined the police force last November.

Both policemen were fired upon from the 2nd floor of a small frame house on the northwest corner at 3rd and Sycamore.

 In response to a call at 12:26 a.m. over the police radio hookup that a man with a gun was at the intersection, Sutman and his partner Patrolman Michael Zimmerman arrived at the scene first. As Sutman stepped out of the car he was hit in the chest by a blast from a shotgun. In response to a radio call for help from Zimmerman the next victim Schultz and Patrolman Al Rudderow arrived on the scene. The gunman fired again and 12 pellets struck Schultz in the head, neck and shoulders.

 The shotgun was fired two more times as other police arrived to return the fire at least six times.

 During a lull, police conferred with the stepfather of James L. Smith, 21, who has been charged with the murders, and it was agreed the stepfather and two policemen were to go upstairs and talk to the assassin, which they did and within a few minutes the young man surrendered to the police. Arraigned, before Municipal Judge William Rosenblatt, on Saturday Smith was ordered held without bail for a further hearing on July 15. 

Mayor Joseph M. Nardi has ordered flags on all municipal buildings flown at half-staff for 30 days in mourning for the slain policemen. Also, all Camden policemen except a few necessary to patrol the city attended the funerals of both men. Fellow officers also acted as pallbearers.

 Police delegations from allover the country attended the funerals and Commissioner Rizzo from Philadelphia sent a detachment of pollee to direct traffic.

 A Requiem High Mass was held for Schultz on Wednesday, 10 a.m., at St. Cecilia's Church,4801 Camden Avenue, Pennsauken, followed by interment at Lakeview Memorial Park. For Sutman a Requiem High Mass was held at St. Joseph's Church, 2907 Federal Street, at 10 a.m. today, followed by burial in the New St. Mary's Cemetery, Bellmawr.

Mr. Schultz is survived by his wife, Rosemary; a daughter, Stephanie; his parents, Mr. and Mrs. George Schultz; and 3 sisters, Mrs. Violet Collum, Mrs. Hope Sarmatto and Mrs. Elsie Haines.

Mr. Sutman is survived by his wife, Colleen; one son, William; his parents, Mr. and Mrs. William Sutman; his paternal grandmother, Mrs. Edna Sutman; and his maternal grandmother, Mrs. Helen Flemming.