Pittsburgh police lose 2nd officer to covid-19

A second Pittsburgh police officer has died from covid-19, police officials said Thursday night.

Sgt. Richard ‘Rick’ Howe, of Cecil, died Thursday afternoon at St. Clair Hospital, officials said.

He was 51.

“We lost a good officer, a good supervisor and an even better person today,” said Cmdr. Edd Trapp, Howe’s supervisor within the Special Deployment Division. Howe, a 24-year veteran of the bureau, was a supervisor in the motorcycle unit.

Howe is the second Pittsburgh officer to die from the virus. Officer Brian Rowland, 47, died Sept. 26, just days after he was hospitalized with covid-19.

Police have not said whether either man was vaccinated. Public safety officials have said just 61% of the bureau is vaccinated.

Chief Scott Schubert said Howe was a friend to many. The two worked together in Zone 6 and the Special Deployment Division. He said Howe often volunteered for Special Olympics events.

“He was a good man, cop, father and husband,” Schubert said. “He will be missed dearly.”

Howe is survived by his wife, Cali, his son, Josh, and daughters Faith and Christine.

Funeral arrangements have not yet been announced.