By Tim Hahn Erie Times-News, Pa.
ERIE, Pa. ā Flags at Erie city buildings flew at half-staff on Sunday in memory of a longtime city police officer who died while on duty on Saturday night.
The cause of death for 46-year-old Michael Conway remained unknown on Sunday. An autopsy will be performed, likely on Tuesday or Wednesday, but it had not been scheduled as of Sunday, Erie County Chief Deputy Coroner Nick Rekitt said.
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It is with great sadness that the Erie Police Dept. has to announce the loss of Officer Michael Conway #334. He…
Posted by Erie Police Dept. on Sunday, August 12, 2018
Erie Police Chief Dan Spizarny said Sunday that the department is still trying to gather some information on what happened Saturday night. More information is expected to be released in the days ahead, he said.
According to Spizarny, Conway, a patrolman, was working as the security officer at the police station inside City Hall when he became “suddenly ill” at 6:59 p.m. Saturday. Conway was taken by ambulance to UPMC Hamot, where he was pronounced dead in the emergency room an hour later, according to Rekitt.
Spizarny said from what police have been able to determine so far, Conway appeared to be conducting his security rounds in the building when he became ill Saturday night.
Conway had been a member of the Erie Bureau of Police for 19 years and three months, Spizarny said. He served earlier in his career as a detective in the Criminal Investigation Division’s burglary unit and as a children’s advocacy detective.
Spizarny said many in the police bureau are in shock over Conway’s death.
“He was a great officer and a good friend to many fellow officers, and he will be sadly missed,” the chief said. ___ (c)2018 the Erie Times-News (Erie, Pa.)
