Ambridge, Aliquippa Chiefs of Police Pass Away Within Hours Of One Another, Remembered By Their Communities
BEAVER COUNTY, Pa. (KDKA) -- Two chiefs of police in neighboring communities in Beaver County passed away over the weekend and are being remembered by their communities.
Ambridge Interim Chief Mark Romutis passed away on Sunday, while Aliquippa Chief Rob Sealock died on Saturday.
Chief Romutis had been the interim chief for the Ambridge Police Department since 2018. He was also a former detective with the City of Pittsburgh Police Department.
"They were close rivals, but also close supporters of each other," said David Lozier, the Beaver County District Attorney.
According to Beaver County officials, Romutis had been diagnosed with COVID-19 but had been cleared to return to work.
WATCH: KDKA's Chris Hoffman Reports Live From Beaver County
He went back to work on Thursday and on Friday. When he started to experience breathing problems, he went to the hospital, where he later died.
"Being highly dedicated, Chief Romutis brought many aspects of modern community policing to Ambridge that created lasting friendships and respected relationships with our citizens," said Mayor Drewnowski.
"His unique abilities brought progressive change to the Ambridge Police Department including his monthly 'Coffee with a Cop,' to routinely walking a beat on Merchant Street interacting with business owners and his personal approach of firsthand seeing tips and concerns addressed with compassion and sincerity."
In Aliquippa, Chief Sealock started with the department in 1997 and became chief in 2018.
He passed away Saturday afternoon at the age of 49. KDKA is told he died from heart and asthma complications and was set to retire this summer.
He leaves behind a wife and kids.
As the rain started to fall in the city, he made his final trip through town.
Aliquippa Mayor Dwan Walker says that he did the job the way you were supposed to do a job and that he was accountable.
The Aliquippa Police Department will honor Sealock on Monday at a local funeral home.
Chief Sealock had also served on the Crescent Township Police Department.
Officers from around the region came to pay their respects. Center Township Police Chief Barry Kramer personally knew Chief Sealock and Chief Romutis.
"Chief Sealock rode motorcycles," said Kramer. "That was one of his passions, as it is with many guys here. Chief Romutis was a history buff. He knew every bit of war strategy and history of wars."
Kramer went on to say, "It impacts all of our families: our personal family at home and our police community family. It hits us two-fold."
"This may be the only form of grieving we have because of funerals and viewings have been put on hold. This may be our only opportunity to show our respect for a fallen brother and both those officers who were colleagues, personal friends and professional friends as well," said Kramer.
Some community members in both Ambridge and Aliquippa are asking their neighbors to put a blue light out on Monday night in memory of both chiefs.
Beaver County commissioners say this is a difficult time for all Beaver County's law enforcement agencies, and with the loss of two leaders in such a short period of time, all of us at KDKA extend our sympathy and continued support to all of them as well.
