According to published reports, police discovered Shinnick, 51, dead in a motel room in Hamlin, Pa., the day after he was reported missing to the Jersey City Police Department. When reported missing by his family, the department, along with the Hudson County Prosecutor's Office, initiated a search for him.
Based on police findings, Shinnick died from an apparently self-inflicted gunshot wound. A note was found at the scene of his death.
A spokesperson for the Pennsylvania State Police in Honesdale, Pa., which is conducting the probe, said the investigation is ongoing, and as a matter of policy would not comment on the exact cause of Shinnick's death until the investigation is complete.
Jersey City Police Chief Thomas Comey said last week that while preliminary findings indicate he may have committed suicide, he would wait until the investigation is complete before commenting further on the exact cause of death. He did not comment when asked about the note.
Shinnick was buried on Tuesday in George Washington Memorial Park in Paramus, a few miles from the Midland Park home where he lived with his wife and two children.
At the time of his death, Shinnick was on the verge of retiring, having served as a police officer for 23 years, and most recently as the head of the Jersey City Police Department's Internal Affairs Bureau.
He was also the recipient of numerous awards for service and bravery including a citation last year at the department's awards ceremony as a member of Internal Affairs.At a loss to explain
Police officers interviewed for this article described Shinnick as someone who "kept to himself" and was a "competent and professional" policeman.
They are also baffled by the death.
Comey, who worked at one time with Shinnick in the department's South District, said that the Edward Shinnick he knew was someone who served the police department "proudly" in his years on the force.
"I spoke at his funeral of how Eddie served valiantly as a police officer during his 23 years and was a dedicated cop who helped so many people while in the job," Comey said. "I was proud to have worked with him."
Comey also said he was at a loss to explain why Shinnick would travel to Pennsylvania.
He also said that Shinnick never spoke to him about any possible personal problems.
Comey said if Shinnick or any police officer needed counseling, there is an "extremely confidential" Police Assistance Program, through which police can take leave for any personal issues without informing the department as to why they are taking leave.
Another policeman speaking highly of Shinnick is Police Captain Robert Cowan, a veteran with nearly 30 years experience.
"[He was] a very conscientious supervisor and police officer, and his death will be a loss to the Jersey City Police Department," Cowan said last week. "And we all feel for his family at this time."
City spokesman Stan Eason met Shinnick in the 1990s when Eason covered the crime beat as a newspaper reporter.
"Meticulous and always by the book," Eason said. "And when I think of someone like Shinnick, who was so conscientious about his work, sometimes you wonder if he didn't feel like he had to carry the world on his shoulders." 'He was like a brother'
And then there's John Shinnick, Secaucus Councilman and Hudson County Community College Administrator, who was Edward Shinnick's first cousin.
"He was like a brother to me, since both of us along with our other cousin Joe were all only sons of our fathers, and we grew up together in Jersey City," Shinnick said last week. "He was a pillar of his community, and he was a great guy who was a true public servant and a great family man."
However, Shinnick said his cousin was a "private man" who didn't talk much about his personal life.
Shinnick said he wasn't aware of any personal problems his cousin may have had. Shinnick also said he was not privy to what was in the note or the investigation.
His cousin's death still came as a great shock to Shinnick.
"Ed was a sensitive guy who in his work would try to take away the pain of others," John Shinnick said. "But I thought the last person this would happen to was Eddie, and the family is trying to ascribe some logic to his death." Comments on this story can be sent to rkaulessar@hudsonreporter.com
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