Thomas Barone

Thomas M. Barone was a man known for his infectious personality and a deep love for life that endeared him to many. A 32-year-old White male, he was born and raised in West Norriton Township, Pennsylvania, by his parents, Charles and Antonia, alongside his brother Michael and sister Rosemary. After graduating from Norristown High School, he attended West Chester University, where he excelled in his studies and activities. Friends and family remembered him as a well-rounded and caring person with a tremendous work ethic. His interests were varied, including music, sports, reading, and weightlifting, but he was especially known for his passion for automobiles. His cars, like the man himself, were described as always being clean, sharp, and finely tuned.

This diligence and pride carried over into his professional life as a police officer. Over a nine-year career in law enforcement, Barone built a reputation for fairness and professionalism that earned him the respect of his fellow officers and the citizens he served. Before joining the Norristown Police Department in 1990, he had served with the police departments in nearby Limerick and Tredyffrin Townships. He also worked as a seasonal officer for the North Wildwood Police Department in New Jersey. He wore badge number 127 for the Norristown department, where he had been serving for two years at the time of his death.

In the pre-dawn hours of Sunday, October 11, 1992, Officer Barone and his partner, Officer Louis Zbyszinski, were on duty in Norristown. Around 3 a.m., they received a call for a domestic disturbance and responded to a row house on the 600 block of West Elm Street. The situation inside the home was tense, and the officers proceeded with caution. As Officer Barone began to climb a narrow, dimly lit staircase to the second floor, he was walking into an ambush.

When he reached the top of the stairs, a man named Walter H.G. Baker opened fire from a dark bedroom. Baker, a 53-year-old handyman, fired two quick shots from a .38 caliber revolver, striking Officer Barone in the head and chest. As Barone fell, Officer Zbyszinski heroically tried to pull his partner out of the line of fire. Baker continued shooting, striking Officer Barone again and also wounding a woman who was inside the house. Officer Thomas Barone died from his injuries.

The news of his murder sent shockwaves through the department and the community. Then-Norristown Police Chief Russell J. Bono later recalled receiving the phone call, saying, "It was like someone punched me in the stomach and I actually fell to my knees in my kitchen." Walter H.G. Baker was taken into custody at the scene. The investigation was handled by the Norristown Police Department and the Montgomery County District Attorney's Office.

In April 1993, Baker's trial for first-degree murder began. On the third day of the proceedings, in a surprising turn, Baker cut off his own defense and pleaded guilty. "I want to get it over with," he told the court. He was convicted and sentenced to death for the murder of Officer Barone. The death sentence, however, was never carried out. Baker remained in prison until he died of natural causes at the age of 54.

Though decades have passed, the memory of Officer Thomas Barone and his ultimate sacrifice has not faded. His heroism is remembered each year on the anniversary of his death by his former colleagues. "We will never forget! Thank you for your sacrifice," the Norristown Police Department wrote in a 2018 tribute. In October 2012, as part of the Montgomery County District Attorney's "Hero Cops" program, a permanent plaque was dedicated in his honor at Marshall Street Elementary School, the school he attended as a child.

The community continues to find ways to celebrate his life and legacy. Drawing inspiration from his widely known love of cars, friends and supporters established the annual Norristown Police Thomas Barone Memorial Car Show. The popular event brings car enthusiasts together and raises money for the Thomas Barone Scholarship Fund and the Montgomery County Hero Fund, ensuring that his spirit of service and dedication continues to make a positive impact. The case is considered solved and is judicially closed.