Euclid police officer commits suicide at police station

EUCLID, Ohio - A Euclid police officer committed suicide inside that city's police station Wednesday morning.

The man was identified as Sgt. Kevin Blakeley, a 28-year veteran of the force, and sources tell newsnet5.com that he had been notified that charges against him were imminent related to cash missing from the police evidence room. Moments later, he turned his gun on himself and took his own life.

The Euclid Police Department will address the incident during a press conference Thursday at 11 a.m.

"Police officers, it's tough for them," Euclid Mayor Bill Cervenik said. "They are a family and they lost a member today."

Cervenik said Blakeley spent the bulk of his nearly three decades in the department working in narcotics and vice.

"A great part of what he did was he worked for our sweeps, where we had problems in certain neighborhoods. Kevin would lead those details and be able to make people who are causing trouble in the neighborhoods understand that this isn't where they ought to be."

Earlier in the day Cervenik released the following statement:

“The city of Euclid and the Euclid Police Department are saddened by the tragic passing of this officer. Our hearts go out to the officers that work with this individual. The entire city is mourning the loss of this public servant. On the behalf of the entire city of Euclid, I extend our deepest sympathy, thoughts and prayers to the officer’s family.”

The city is flying all flags at half staff.

"Regardless of the circumstances and the fact that we don't understand why certain things happen in a person's life, and what decisions they make, he's still one of ours and always will be," Cervenik said.

The Cuyahoga County Sheriff's Office is handling the death investigation.

Keep checking newsnet5.com for more information.