Cincinnati Police ID officer found dead in Eden Park. Nature of death remains in question

The Cincinnati officer found dead Thursday afternoon near Eden Park has been identified by the police department where he worked for the past 28 years.

Sgt. Arthur T. Schultz's body was located by his fellow officers in a vehicle at 2084 Eden Park Drive, officials said.

Cincinnati Police Chief Eliot Isaac described Schultz as a respected officer.

"CPD shares in the pain and tremendous loss of Sergeant Schultz as he will be tremendously missed," Isaac said in a statement.

Before identifying Shultz, Isaac and Hamilton County Coroner Lakshmi Sammarco addressed the media in Mount Adams, near the scene.

Isaac said Shultz was discovered just after noon on Lakes Drive, adding no one was being pursued in connection with the death.

Sammarco said the death was "not natural."

"We always presume homicide until it's proven otherwise," Sammarco said.

She said homicide, suicide and accidental causes are all being investigated.

Isaac said the officer worked on a plainclothes assignment and was not in uniform at the time of his death. He was in the vice unit since December of 2000, Isaac said.

He became an officer in 1990 when he was assigned to District 4, Isaac said. Shultz was promoted to police specialist in 1995 and then sergeant in 1997 in District 1. 

"It was a very emotional scene," Isaac said. "This is a very difficult time for the department. My heart goes out to the family and the coworkers of our brother officer."

Police locked down the Eden Park area and closed Eden Park Drive for more than two hours after Shultz's body was found.

Access to Krohn Conservatory, the Cincinnati Art Museum and the overlook park was restricted.

Just before 2 p.m., officials said there was no threat or concern for public safety.

Sammarco said she could be prepared to release more information about the death as early as Friday morning.