SRU grad, Pittsburgh officer released from hospital
A Pittsburgh Police officer and Slippery Rock University graduate who was injured in a Synagogue shooting on Saturday was released from the hospital earlier this week, just in time to attend a Penguins game on Tuesday night.
The game at PPG Paints Arena hosted the Penguins against the Islanders where the Islanders won. But according to the Penguins' vice president of communication, Tom McMillan, 62, the main event of the night was an appearance from Officer Anthony Burke, who graduated from SRU in 20013, and Officer Michael Smidga, who was also injured during a standoff with a gunman on Saturday in Squirrel Hill that left 11 people dead.
“You're honored and humbled to see them walk through the door. They were just facing death.” McMillan said. “They were quite emotional coming off the ice.”
The two walked out on the ring for the ceremonial face-off.
Burke had a bandage wrapping and cast on his right hand, evidence of a bullet that hit him during the standoff with the alleged shooter 46-year-old Robert G. Bowers. He was taken to a UPMC hospital for treatment and on Tuesday, Pittsburgh Police released a statement that noted Burke had been released. Smidga was treated for a head wound from a shrapnel or bullet graze.
The appearance from the two was surprise for the hockey fans, McMillan said. And as the crowd realized who the two were, the standing ovation rose in volume.
“I've been doing this for 23 years and I can't remember ever hearing that level of ovations,” McMillan said. And the officers “were overwhelmed by the response.”
This is an excerpt — read the full story in Thursday's Butler Eagle.
