Procession honoring acting Aliquippa police chief stretches 2 miles

Officials estimated the procession stretched 2 miles and included officers from scores of local departments. They escorted the hearse from a funeral home in Blawnox along Routes 28, 65 and 51 to Aliquippa’s Franklin Avenue, passing the police station. Sealock’s family rode in the hearse and a car directly behind it.

The vehicles traveled under crossed fire engine aerial ladders with a large American flag at the top to the Anthony Mastrofrancesco Funeral Home on McMinn Street.

Dozens of city residents and local first responders turned out in a morning downpour to pay respects with signs and American flags. They included Greg Szuchy, 50, and his son, Gregory, both Aliquippa residents.

“Me and my son just felt it’s appropriate to pay our respects in any way we can to a man who dedicated his life to protecting the citizens,” Greg Szuchy said. “What’s a shame is he has been in the hospital for over two weeks and nobody could even go and see him.”

Lozier said Sealock’s death was not related to covid-19.

“He suffered an arrest — whether it was respiratory or coronary, I don’t know — during a police event back at the end of March,” the district attorney said. “He was resuscitated on the scene and went to the hospital from there. This was work-related.”

Lozier said the coronavirus pandemic would prevent a community memorial service, but he anticipates a public tribute when Sealock’s name is listed on a Beaver County police memorial for officers who died while on duty.

“What we did today is all we’re going to be able to do,” he said. “That was why the police showed up in such force.”

Ohio Township police Cpl. Don Manz stood in the rain playing mournful bagpipe music outside the police station. Manz said he stopped earlier in Ambridge to honor the borough’s former interim police Chief Mark Romutis, who died Sunday after contracting covid-19.

Lozier said he was leaving Aliquippa for Ambridge, where officers planned a similar escort for Romutis.

“It’s been rough morning, and it’s going to be a rough afternoon,” he said.

Sealock had been an Aliquippa police officer for 23 years and was planning to retire this summer, officials said.

Mayor Dwan Walker promoted Sealock to acting chief in May 2018 during a department upheaval following the murder of Rachael DelTondo on Mother’s Day 2018.

Chief Don Couch was placed on administrative leave June 6, 2018, for unspecified reasons, and two days later the officer named to replace him on an interim basis, Assistant Chief Joseph Perciavalle III, was arrested for allegedly sending lewd text messages.

Sealock was named acting chief in wake of Perciavalle’s arrest.