The Bethel Park Police Department announced the death of retired chief Timothy C. O’Connor in a Facebook post Wednesday morning.
According to the Allegheny County Medical Examiner’s Office, O’Connor died by suicide just after 11:30 p.m. Tuesday.
O’Connor, previously commander of Pittsburgh police’s Zone 5 station, was sworn in as Bethel Park’s police chief in February 2015.
A lifelong Pittsburgh resident who grew up in Carrick and Allentown, O’Connor had 35 years of experience with Pittsburgh police. He rose through the ranks from a foot patrol officer along Liberty Avenue in 1980 to posts in the East End, North Side and South Side.
He arrived in Zone 5 in 2009 as a lieutenant in charge of the night shift and was promoted to commander in 2010.
He resigned from Bethel Park in November.
The department asked the public to keep O’Connor’s family and friends in their thoughts and prayers during this time.
