Delhi officer remembered as 'good, solid guy' | Cincinnati.com | cincinnati.com

Robert Buhrlage Jr.

Robert Buhrlage’s field training officer will miss the Delhi policeman’s laugh.

“I will always remember his laugh. It’s very sad to think we won’t hear it again,” Lt. Joe
Macaluso said. “You grow a special bond with any officer when you train them. You
always hope for them to be successful. Rob did a good job. He made a career out of
this for 13 years and it’s just very sad he died at such a young age.”

An investigation is underway after the 36-year-old Delhi Township police officer was found dead Sept. 19.

Buhrlage, a 13-year-veteran of the police department, was found unresponsive at his Delhi Township
home about 6:10 a.m., Sgt. Bob Schwaeble said.

“This is a tragic loss for the Buhrlage family, our police department and the Delhi community,” reads a
police statement issued. “Our thoughts and prayers are with the Buhrlage family.”

A concerned relative went to check on Buhrlage after not hearing from him, Schwaeble said.

Foul play is not suspected. Buhrlage, who ran marathons, had no known medical conditions, police said,
but they believe his death will be linked to some kind of unknown medical ailment.

Police and the Hamilton County Coroner’s Office are investigating.

“It definitely was not suicide,” Schwaeble said Friday. “I don’t know if he had a seizure or whatever, but he
was home alone at the time.”

Buhrlage grew up in Delhi Township, graduated from Oak Hills High School in 1995 and from Kentucky
Wesleyan College in 1999 with a double major in criminal justice and art.

He participated in fundraisers and ran the Flying Pig Marathon to honor a friend’s 4-year-old son who died
from a head injury, Austin Doll.

Delhi Township resident Keith Maginn, one of Buhrlage’s longtime friends, said his thoughts and prayers
go out to the Buhrlage family.

“It’s still kind of a shock,” Maginn said. “I feel terrible for all of his family and friends.”

Maginn said he’s known Buhrlage since they were kids – Buhrlage was two years his senior and in the
same grade as Maginn’s older brother.

They grew up in the neighborhood near Delshire Elementary School, and spent the majority of their youth
playing sports together.