Pittsburgh officer laid to rest in Indiana County

Apr 12, 2009 (Tribune-Review - McClatchy-Tribune Information Services via COMTEX) -- OALD | Quote | Chart | News | PowerRating -- Surrounded by more than 400 law enforcement brethren and his family, slain Officer Stephen J. Mayhle was buried Saturday in his native Indiana County.

Mayhle, 29, was eulogized at a private service for family and law enforcement officers at the John A. Lefdahl Funeral Home in Indiana, and two hours later at a 30-minute graveside service at nearby Oakland Cemetery.

Mayhle's flag-draped coffin entered the cemetery in a horse-drawn, glass-enclosed hearse, which passed Indiana University of Pennsylvania, where Mayhle earned a criminology degree in 2002. He had been a city policeman for two years.

Thousands of mourners lined the three-mile procession route along 4th and Philadelphia streets and Oakland Avenue to pay their respects to Mayhle, who was killed eight days ago responding to a domestic disturbance in Stanton Heights along with two other Officers Eric G. Kelly and Paul J. Sciullo II.

Kelly and Sciullo were laid to rest Thursday following a three-hour memorial service at the Peterson Events Center in Oakland.

Lifelong Mayhle family friends Marlin and Myrna Stahl traveled from Perry County to pay their respects at the graveside yesterday and Friday during visitation at the funeral home.

"My husband and Stephen's father, Ron, attended (Allegheny Wesleyan) Bible College in Salem, Ohio, a long time ago and our families have been close ever since. We saw Stephen grow up, and I can tell you he was a perfect gentleman and a terrific father," Myrna Stahl said.

She recalled a trip the couple made to Tennessee four years ago, where Stephen was helping build a retirement cottage for his mother and father. Marlin worked on the electrical service.

"Oh, I remember Stephen was a terrific guitar player, and I played the accordion and mandolin. We had a wonderful time playing gospel music," she said.

Mayhle attended nearby Indiana Wesleyan School where he met his wife, Shandra, before he enrolled at IUP.

Most of the mourners along the procession route had never known the Mayhles. Indiana residents Howard and Ina Abrams parked their car in a Rite Aid parking lot at the corner of 4th and Philadelphia streets to reserve a space to salute the officer.

"It's just all been so emotional this week. We don't know the family, but we just want to pay our respects for what they've gone through," Ina Abrams said.

Many sidewalks downtown were adorned with red, white and blue balloons, small American flags and bunting for the services. Two ladder trucks from the Indiana Borough fire department hoisted an American flag over Philadelphia Street next to the courthouse for the procession.

Pittsburgh police pallbearers in dress uniforms and white gloves moved the casket from the hearse to the burial site. Bagpipers played as the casket was moved.

Retired Moon Detective Sgt. Tony Banks, 68, played taps during the military service at the cemetery, which included a state police helicopter fly-by. Banks, president of the West Hills Symphony Association in Robinson has been playing taps at funerals since 1961. It never is easy.

"You just concentrate on the 24 notes you've got to hit and clear everything else from your head," Banks said.

Banks played at the graveside service for Kelly on Thursday.

Pittsburgh police Chief Nate Harper presented the American flag that draped the officer's coffin to his widow, Shandra. The couple's two children, 6-year-old Jennifer and 3-year-old Brooklynn, dressed in matching, flowing white dresses, dark jackets and patent leather black shoes, each held one of their mother's hands as the family was escorted to graveside by Pittsburgh officers.

Capt. James Davies, who works at Pine Grove State Correctional Institution near Indiana, brought his 7-year-old son, Benjamin, and 9-year-old nephew, Isaac, to pay last respects. They watched from a parking lot across Oakland Avenue from the cemetery.

Davies said he was not surprised by the outpouring from the law enforcement community toward the three fallen officers over the last 8 days.

"It's a terrible tragedy, but law enforcement always bands together in these times to help out the families. You really feel for the kids ... these services will be the last thing they will remember about their dad," he said.

Mayhle, Kelly, and Sciullo were shot April 4 responding to a domestic disturbance in Stanton Heights. The suspect, Richard Poplawski, 22, was wounded. Poplawski was armed with an AK-47 assault rifle. He faces three homicide charges as well as aggravated assault and gun charges.

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