Bauschka, 43, died of a self-inflicted gunshot wound to the head at the Army-Navy Club at 1008B Ninth St. SW, according to authorities.
Bauschka was pronounced dead at the scene at 4:17 p.m., said Harry Campbell, Stark County Coroner’s office investigator. An autopsy was to be performed today, but Bauschka’s death appears to be a suicide, Campbell said.
“There is nothing to suggest it is anything other than that,” Campbell said.
The shooting occurred just before 4 p.m.
A handful of people were inside the club at the time of the shooting, said Massillon police detective Jason Greenfield. A pistol was recovered at the scene, he said, and several witnesses have been interviewed. The incident remains under investigation, said Greenfield, who declined further comment.
Bauschka, a 1985 Washington High School graduate, had been a member of the Navarre police force for more than 15 years and was named police chief in 2000. He resigned in February after unidentified village officials requested a Sheriff’s Department investigation. Authorities have declined to disclose the reason for the probe. Bauschka’s computer was seized as evidence during the investigation.
Information gathered by the Sheriff’s Department had been turned over to the Stark County Prosecutor’s office, but the investigation remained open.
“The thing is I love the guy, he was my boy,” Navarre Mayor Robert Benson said Friday.
Benson said he hadn’t talked to Bauschka in some time, but the former chief recently sent him a photo of his new granddaughter.
Benson believes Bauschka was working in security in the Akron area.
According to Benson, Bauschka is divorced and has a stepdaughter, a teenage son and daughter and one grandchild.
Bauschka’s father, Dave, is a former Massillon police officer. Bauschka’s parents are believed to live out of state.
Current Navarre Police Chief Dennis Albaugh said he had not spoken to Bauschka since he stepped down in February.
“He kind of lost contact with everybody when he resigned,” Albaugh said.
It was Bauschka who hired Albaugh in 2003.
“He was a good officer ... he taught me quite a bit in the job,” Albaugh said.
The Drug Abuse Resistance Education program was a priority to Bauschka throughout his career, according to Albaugh.
Former Navarre Councilwoman Pat Winkhart recalled when Bauschka would patrol the village on his bicycle.
“I’m so sad for his family. We need to keep all in his prayers,” Winkhart said. “... He was excited to be a grandpa.”
Childhood friend Clay Spangler, of Massillon, was at a loss to explain Bauschka’s death.
“He was just over at my house two weeks ago playing cards. He was a good guy ... everybody loved him,” Spangler said.
Source:Cleveland.com
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