Three fallen Pittsburgh officers honored on anniversary of their deaths ‘It hurts 10 years later’
The atmosphere was somber tranquility, with an overtone of honor, during a memorial service Thursday at the Pittsburgh police Zone 5 station in Highland Park.
Ten years ago, on April 4, 2009, Zone 5 officers Paul Sciullo, Stephen Mayhle and Eric Kelly died in an ambush in Stanton Heights. The officers had responded to a domestic call on Fairfield Street, where Richard Poplawski shot them with an assault-style rifle.
Family and community members, officers and city officials gathered Thursday to honor the men
who laid their lives on the line.
The service began just after 7:15 a.m. with a prayer by the Rev. Darryl Canady of the Rodman Street Missionary Baptist Church. A moment of silence ensued after Michael Steinmiller, a telecommunications officer for the Allegheny County Police, called in through the county police radio dispatch system, saying, “They will forever be with us.”
Mayor Bill Peduto joined in placing carnations in front of memorial hedges set up in honor of the fallen officers. A sign that said, “Stood Together, Fell Together: Fighting 5th” was posted outside the station. Family members of the fallen officers sat beneath a tent outside, flanked by rows of police.
About 150 officers attended, from the city, the Port Authority and Bethel Park, plus Allegheny County sheriff’s deputies and city public safety officials.
“You had a lot of officers who weren’t in uniform who just came with family and friends,” Cmdr. Jason Lando of Zone 5 said afterward.
Jene Meyers, of Garfield, the niece of Officer Kelly, said after the
service that the memories were still fresh, even 10 years later.
“It’s always amazing, but the fact that it’s been 10 years — it’s overwhelming,” Ms. Meyers said. “You live that day all over again. By them honoring them every year, it just keeps the memory fresh, and just shows everyone’s appreciation for the officers who lost their lives.”
Zone 5 Officer Mike Gay sang the Lord’s Prayer during the service, and Officer Chuck Handerhan helped to open the ceremony by playing “Going Home” on a bagpipe.
No one spoke during the service; those in attendance simply and quietly watched the order of events.
Pittsburgh police Chief Scott Schubert spoke afterward and said there was a lot on his mind.
“Their families, all the officers over the years who were here when this happened — it’s a void in our heart that will never be filled,” he said. “I tell everybody you can’t forget the sacrifice, but it’s important that we always remember the lives that they lived. They were good men, good officers, and it hurts 10 years later.”
Chief Schubert also reminisced about Penn Hills Officer Michael Crawshaw, who was killed in December 2009 after responding to a call on Johnston Road in Penn Hills. Officer Crawshaw was parked two houses away waiting for backup when he was shot.
“Police, we’re here to help,” Chief Schubert said. “We’re willing to put our lives on the line to help people we don’t even know, and that’s what those officers did that day. That’s what officers do every day in the city of Pittsburgh and around this country.”
A closing prayer was delivered by Torrey Johnson of the Church of the Holy Cross on Kelly Street in Homewood. Most family members present declined to comment after the service.
“I can honestly tell y’all, being that it’s been 10 years to date, it still hurts like it just happened yesterday,” Ms. Meyers, Officer Kelly’s niece, said. “All three of the officers are dearly missed, but we really, really miss Eric.”