Duty Death: Paul J. Koropal - [Fayette County]
End of Service: 05/05/2015
By Michael Hasch
The Pittsburgh Tribune-Review
FAYETTE COUNTY, Pa. — A veteran investigator from the Allegheny County District Attorney’s Office died Tuesday, having become ill while taking part in a federal drug investigation in Fayette County, officials said.
The detective — identified by the district attorney’s office as Paul J. Koropal — died of a suspected “cardiac event” about 2:30 p.m. in the emergency room of Uniontown Hospital, said Phillip E. Reilly, Fayette County coroner.
There is no indication Koropal, who was in his late 40s, was involved in any type of struggle or altercation before becoming ill, Reilly said.
Koropal was part of a multijurisdictional effort — involving special agents from the FBI, state police and the Fayette County Drug Task Force — that was executing federal search warrants at 11 locations throughout Fayette County, according to a statement released from the U.S. Attorney’s Office in Pittsburgh.
“My understanding is that he was filling out paperwork when he told his partner that he wasn’t feeling well,” Reilly said. “When the partner suggested that the officer go to the hospital and he didn’t object, the partner knew him well enough to know something was seriously wrong.”
When Koropal arrived at the hospital, emergency room physician Dr. Michael Bradmon began treating him for a suspected heart problem, Reilly said.
An autopsy is scheduled, Reilly said.
Koropal, known as “PJ,” worked as a district attorney’s office investigator for 18 years, the past 16 as a member of the state police auto theft task force, according to a statement from Mike Manko, a spokesman for District Attorney Stephen A. Zappala Jr.
“PJ will first and foremost be remembered as a loving husband and father, survived by his wife and two children, a son and a daughter,” Manko’s statement read.
“PJ will also be remembered as a loyal and dedicated member of this office and law enforcement in general, and he will be deeply missed by ... all of his colleagues and friends throughout western Pennsylvania,” Manko said.
Copyright 2015 The Pittsburgh Tribune-Review