Holly MatkinCleveland, OH – Cleveland Police Department (CPD) Officer Nicholas Sabo died from a self-inflicted gunshot wound on Sept. 4.
The 39-year-old officer’s body was found inside his North Ridgeville home, The Plain Dealer reported.
CPD Chief Calvin Williams later confirmed that Officer Sabo’s death was ruled to be a suicide, according to WKYC.
Hours before his death, Officer Sabo made several Facebook posts about the Sept. 3 murder of fellow CPD Detective James Skernivitz, 53, who was fatally shot alongside a confidential informant while working on an undercover drug deal, The Plain Dealer reported.
Chief Williams said that the officers knew each other, but would not confirm whether they had ever worked together, according to WKYC.
“I don’t think anybody out there can really understand what the division is going through with the loss of an officer in the line of duty, especially to violence, is a terrible tragedy,” Chief Williams told The Plain Dealer. “But two officers in one night is really bad.”
Cleveland Police Patrolmen’s Association (PPA) President Jeff Follmer said he was “shocked” when he learned about Officer Sabo’s death.
“We’re still trying to understand it,” Follmer told The Plain Dealer.
Officer Sabo served as a police officer in the Columbus area before he joined CPD in 2013.
He spent the past seven years working in the Fourth District, according to his obituary.
Officer Sabo leaves behind his wife, Brienne, as well as his children, Kinsley, Camryn, Elijah, and Isaiah.
He is also survived by his mother, siblings, and many friends and extended family members.
Officer Sabo will be laid to rest on Sept. 16.
Rest In Peace Officer Nicholas Sabo and Det. James Skernivitz. Thank you for your service. 💙 pic.twitter.com/xrh9dWHr0M
— Joey G (CUTTY2287) (@68HEMIdart) September 4, 2020
This morning I learned my high school classmate Cleveland Police Officer Nick Sabo took his life following the shooting of his colleague Det. James Skernivitz who was killed in the line of duty last night.
The National Suicide Prevention Lifeline '1-80… https://t.co/ZIHsrNIisK pic.twitter.com/eVSbj7Rp34
— Haraz N. Ghanbari (@HarazGhanbari) September 4, 2020
Lost in the news today that a detective was killed in the line of duty, is that this officer, Nick Sabo took his own life. This has been an awful day for the Cleveland Police Department. pic.twitter.com/vSMKMu0DKX
— Jim Nelson (@JimNelsonTV) September 5, 2020
Our thoughts and prayers are with the family of Cleveland Police Department Officer Nicholas Sabo, both blood and blue. Thank you for your service.
Rest easy, hero. We’ll hold the line from here.
