Penn Hills marks 10 years since death of Officer Michael J. Crawshaw
Michael J. Crawshaw, end of watch: Dec. 6, 2009.
The words and numbers tell a story many cannot understand, but they are why many gathered at the Penn Hills Municipal Complex exactly 10 years later.
To remember.
“Although this is just a very emotional, very painful day for us, I think that it’s also a day where we should all remember the police officers, first responders, who go to work everyday to protect and serve us and may not come home,” Linda Crawshaw, Michael’s mother, said after the memorial.
Crawshaw, 32, died after he was shot by Ronald Robinson, 41, of Homewood. Moments before, Robinson shot and killed another man over a $500 drug debt, according to police.
Robinson is serving two consecutive life sentences without the possibility of parole after his conviction of second-degree murder in Crawshaw’s death and first-degree murder for killing Danyal Morton, 40, of Penn Hills.
The memorial drew friends, family and fellow officers who served alongside Crawshaw.
“We shall not forget. And we will not,” said Penn Hills police Chief Howard Burton, moments before officers from Penn Hills, the Northern Regional Police Department, Pittsburgh Police Department and the North Hills Special Response Team saluted a monument that memorializes fallen officers just outside the Penn Hills municipal complex along Duff Road.
The crowd watched in silence as a cold drizzle fell from the gray sky. Some dropped blue flowers at the monument before heading inside for an extended ceremony.
Inside, Burton further recognized the spouses and families of fallen officers. He then remembered others who were killed on the line of duty close to home.
Sgt.William Schrott, 49, and Patrolman Bartley Connolly Jr., 38 — both Penn Hills police officers — were shot and killed March 25, 1972 when they were working a security detail at the former East Hills Shopping Center. Rose Dinkins, 24 at the time, held up a store with a handgun. When confronted, Dinkins fatally shot Schrott and Connolly.
Pittsburgh officers Paul Sciullo, Stephen Mayhle and Eric Kelly were killed after being ambushed in a Stanton Heights home only eight months prior to Crawshaw. Scuillo’s mother, Sue, attended the ceremony.
Burton also remembered New Kensington officer Brian Shaw, who was gunned down Nov. 17. Rahmael Holt, 31, was convicted in Shaw’s death and sentenced to death.
Crawshaw’s mother, Linda, remembered her son as “the life of the party.”
“Mike was someone who was always happy. Mike was always someone who had a smile on his face. The kindest person you would ever meet,” she said. “He was just a guy who knew right from wrong and always practiced that.”
Burton said it warmed his heart seeing such a crowded room of people. There were around 200 people.
“The outpouring of support from the law enforcement community and the public itself for these fallen officers. It was great and it makes the world of difference for police officers,” he said.
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