By Jill King Greenwood
Pittsburgh Tribune Review
PITTSBURGH — The dispatcher’s voice came from an empty police car, its lights flashing Tuesday in front of the Penn Hills Municipal Building.
About 100 officers from various departments lined the path, standing at attention for the 4 p.m. roll call, as the dispatcher called for Badge No. 1352. Tears streamed down many officers’ faces.
“Allegheny County Communications, this is the final roll call for Officer Michael Crawshaw, Badge No. 1352. End of watch Dec. 6, 2009. May God rest his soul.”
The ceremony was the first of several public memorials as the region mourns another fallen officer, while authorities look for answers to questions surrounding Crawshaw’s death Sunday night and prepare for his accused killer’s first court appearance.
Crawshaw’s funeral will be held at 10 a.m. Friday in St. Boniface Church in the North Side. The service will follow viewings in West View from 3 to 8 p.m. today and Thursday.
“Our officers are grieving and dealing with the loss and consoling each other,” police Chief Howard Burton said about his 53-officer department. “But they’re continuing to come to work. That is the best way to honor Michael.”
Crawshaw, 32, of Penn Hills died when a gunman sprayed his squad car with bullets as he awaited backup to a call for gunmen in a home. Police on Monday arrested Ronald Robinson, 32, of Homewood on charges he killed Crawshaw after fatally shooting another man, Danyal Morton, inside the home.
Robinson’s attorney, Robert Foreman of the Allegheny County Public Defender’s Office, could not be reached for comment.
Burton said he received calls from departments across the country offering condolences and indicating they will send contingents to Friday’s funeral. Pittsburgh police Chief Nate Harper is helping him plan the procession and offering guidance about handling traffic and housing plans for out-of-town officers.
Thousands of officers from across the United States and Canada arrived in Pittsburgh in April for the funerals of three city officers killed while responding to a domestic call.
“Everyone has offered everything,” Burton said. “This is a brotherhood and a sisterhood. Law enforcement is a unique profession. We share in each other’s happiness and tragedies.”
Across the state in Bethlehem on Friday, funeral services will be held for Sgt. Mark Renninger. The Bethlehem native, who worked for the Lakewood, Wash., police department, was killed Nov. 29 with three other officers while sitting in a coffee shop.
“Danger is inherent with the job,” Burton said. “You come to work, and you don’t think about it. You’d go crazy if you did. You train, and you rely on your instincts. Michael did exactly what he was supposed to do. He did nothing wrong.”
Allison Pavlik, manager of Duke Rodi Lounge in Penn Hills, said Crawshaw and other officers often came to the tavern to eat chicken wings. The bar is planning a fundraiser in January to memorialize Crawshaw, she said.
“He was such a great guy,” Pavlik said. “It’s such a tragedy. There doesn’t seem to be any fear anymore with people. Since when are police officers targets?”
Police say Robinson, a felon on parole from a gun conviction, confessed to killing Crawshaw and Morton with an assault rifle. But police still are building their case. His preliminary hearing is scheduled for Friday.
The federal Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives is examining guns found near the shooting scene and in an abandoned house near Robinson’s home, Burton said.
County police did not comment about where the investigation stands. They would not discuss the background of Morton or his housemate, Lamar Jay, 25.
According to a police affidavit, Robinson told investigators he went to Morton’s Johnston Road home to collect a $500 drug debt. Jay told police he answered a knock at the door to see a man with a rifle standing there, asking for Morton.
County dispatchers received a 911 call for gunmen in the home and heard a struggle, followed by gunshots. In his patrol car, Crawshaw had unholstered his .45-caliber handgun when Robinson emerged from the home and fired at least nine shots into the vehicle.
Crawshaw, a Penn Hills officer for two years, was struck in the left arm and near the left eye. He died a short time later at UPMC Presbyterian, Oakland.
Robinson is charged with two counts of homicide and remains in the county jail without bond.
Copyright 2009 Pittsburgh Tribune Review