Pittsburgh police announce death of officer following illness

A Pittsburgh police officer died Sunday night after what officials called “a brief illness.”

Brian Rowland, 47, served 21 years with the Pittsburgh Bureau of Police. He was assigned to Zone 6 in the West End section of the city.

Chief Scott Schubert called Rowland a dedicated officer and loyal friend.

“The Pittsburgh Police family is a family in the truest sense of the word,” he said in a statement. “The loss of one of our brothers in blue is felt acutely by each and every one of us. We serve together, we mourn together, and we will help each other through this together…as a family.”

Police officials did not release Rowland’s cause of death, saying only he was “surrounded by his loving family when he passed away at St. Clair Hospital following a brief illness.”

#NEW
The Pittsburgh Bureau of Police are mourning the loss of one of their own. A childhood friend shared this photo of Officer Brian Rowland. She said he loved being a police officer and his death is a huge loss to the city.
Coming up on @WPXI how he’s being remembered. pic.twitter.com/JP4RSIZMBq

— Nicole Ford (@NicoleFordTV) September 27, 2021

Cmdr. Cristyn Zett supervised Rowland at the Zone 6 station. She said they met as classmates at the police academy.

“He was a no-nonsense guy who devoted his entire adult life to protecting and serving the residents of Pittsburgh,” Zett said in a statement. “Brian was a devoted husband, a huge dog lover, a fitness enthusiast, a friend, and mentor to countless officers.”

Rowland’s death, she said, “leaves a huge void in the police bureau.”

He is survived by his wife, Krista, and three beloved pets: Echo, Kimber and Jinxy Cat.