Bensalem police officer dies during 5k in Northeast Philadelphia

BENSALEM, Pa. (WPVI) -- The Bensalem Police Department is mourning the loss of one of their own - a detective who died Saturday during a 5K in Northeast Philadelphia.

It was the annual 19154 5K - a race named for the zip code and the community it runs through: Parkwood in Northeast Philadelphia.

On Saturday morning, one of those runners - Bensalem Police Detective Kevin Cornish - suddenly collapsed on the course and died.

"They say everybody is replaceable. This guy is not replaceable. It's going to be a big loss to us," said Fred Harran, Bensalem Public Safety Director.

Harran says the 42-year-old husband and father of an 11-year-old daughter was helping raise money for St. Anselm Parish and its youth programs.

Philadelphia police say shortly after the 9:00 a.m. race started, Detective Cornish fell near Academy and Torrey roads. It appears he suffered a massive heart attack.

"It's a loss to the community. Here's a guy who last year got 'Bensalem Rotary Officer of the Year' for all his charity work. He died doing charity work," said Harran.

Det. Cornish was a 12 year veteran on the force, part of the Special Victims Unit specializing in crimes against children.

The death is even more of a shock to this department because Det. Cornish was a healthy - a vegan and an avid runner.

Parishioners at the church he was helping were also saddened to hear the news.

"Our prayers will be with them and it's just horrible," said Ken Burton.

"I'm really shocked and I certainly feel sorry for his family," said Marie Burton.

Bensalem police say Det. Cornish went to the Secret Service for a year but returned because he thought he could make more of a difference here.

"There are a lot of creeps in jail and a lot of kids that won't be victims anymore because of Detective Cornish. That we should be proud of and his family should be proud of. He saved a lot of lives - this guy made the difference," said Harran.

Bensalem police say an autopsy will confirm the cause of death.

Funeral arrangements for the decorated law enforcement officer are pending.