CINCINNATI — Police shut down access to Eden Park for several hours Thursday, Dec. 20 after discovering a plainclothes officer dead inside a car. Officials with the department and the Hamilton County Coroner's Office promised to investigate the circumstances behind the death of Sgt. Arthur Schultz, a 28-year veteran of the force.
Schultz's body was discovered in Eden Park around 12:30 p.m., Chief Eliot Isaac said in an afternoon news conference.
Hamilton County coroner Lakshmi Sammarco said preliminary findings show Schultz died from gunshot wound that appears to be self-inflicted.
“CPD shares in the pain and tremendous loss of Sergeant Schultz as he will be tremendously missed,” Isaac later wrote in a news release.
It is with a heavy heart that we share the loss of our brother officer today. We are conducting a death investigation in conjunction with the Hamilton County Coroner's Office. Our thoughts & prayers are with the family & our fellow officers. pic.twitter.com/qsm4VZPQBK
— Chief Eliot K. Isaac (@ChiefEIsaac) December 20, 2018
Eden Park Drive reopened to traffic about 3:30 p.m. Police said officers are not searching for a suspect and do not believe members of the public are in danger.
According to a news release, Schultz joined the Cincinnati Police Department in 1990 and quickly became a well-respected member of the force. He had worked in its vice unit for 18 years at the time of his death.
Visitation hours for Schultz will be held December 27 from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. at Spring Grove Cemetery’s Norman Chapel located at 4521 Spring Grove Avenue, Cincinnati, Ohio 45232. FOP services will be held at 12:45 p.m.
Funeral services will immediately follow at 1 p.m. A reception following the funeral services is limited to family and invited guests. The officer will be interned at Spring Grove Cemetery.
