Slain Pittsburgh officer given fire courage award

PITTSBURGH (AP) — One of three Pittsburgh police officers killed by a gunman in April has received a posthumous citation for bravery for trying to rescue an 83-year-old woman from a fire last July.

Shandra Mayhle, the widow of Officer Stephen Mayhle, accepted the award Thursday, the second-highest honor given to city officers.

Officer Mayhle kicked in a door and was cited along with two other officers who also tried to rescue 83-year-old Cora Raiford. She and her son, 56-year-old Kenneth Raiford, died in the July 12 fire when officers were driven back by flames and smoke.

Mayhle and officers, Paul Sciullo II and Eric Kelly were shot April 4 when they responded to a fight between a woman and her son. That man, 22-year-old Richard Poplawski is waiting trial on murder charges.