Politics & Government

Poplawski Trial: Local Police Attend to Support Slain Pittsburgh Officers

Testimony began Monday in the trial of Richard Poplawski, the accused killer of three Pittsburgh police officers in 2009.

Police from Moon Township, Ross Township and other Patch communities joined dozens of uniformed state troopers and Pittsburgh and municipal officers who lined the streets Monday outside the Allegheny County Courthouse, Downtown.

Solemn officers stood side by side to show support for the families of slain Pittsburgh Police Officers Paul J. Sciullo II, Stephen J. Mayhle and Eric G. Kelly, who died in a shootout after responding to a domestic dispute on April 4, 2009.

The homicide trial for Richard Poplawski, the man charged with ambushing the officers outside his mother's home in Stanton Heights, began Monday before Allegheny County Common Pleas Judge Jeffrey A. Manning. Prosecutors are seeking the death penalty for Poplawski, 24, who also is charged with attempted homicide for injuring two officers and shooting at others during the standoff.

Find out what's happening in Sewickleywith free, real-time updates from Patch.

The trial has drawn such widespread media and public attention that for the first time the county court is offering closed-circuit television coverage in another courtroom set aside to hold overflow observers. A jury from Dauphin County is hearing the case.

Chief Leo McCarty said he permitted officers from his department to attend the trial while they are off-duty. They were not permitted to use police vehicles, but McCarthy said they were allowed to wear their uniforms Monday as a show of support for the slain officers. 

Find out what's happening in Sewickleywith free, real-time updates from Patch.

"My understanding is that they were standing outside the perimeter [of the court house]," McCarthy said. "There were officers from all over who were going." 

Several officers from the Ross Police Department and other communities joined the police line outside the courthouse, as did retired officers in plainclothes.

KDKA-TV and The Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reported that testimony Monday was emotional for witnesses and relatives of the slain officers. 

According to KDKA, jurors heard the taped 911 call in which Poplawski's mother sumoned police to their home.  KDKA and the Post-Gazette also reported that Officer Timothy McManaway, who was wounded in the hand during the shootout, testified that he dragged Officer Kelly to cover and that Officer Kelly asked him, "Tell my wife and kids that I love them."

For more coverage from KDKA, click here. For more coverage from the Post-Gazette, click here.

North Hills Patch Local Editor AmyJo Brown contributed.


Get more local news delivered straight to your inbox. Sign up for free Patch newsletters and alerts.

We’ve removed the ability to reply as we work to make improvements. Learn more here

More from Sewickley