>

Peace be with the fallen and their family.  I hope the suspect is caught soon.
Pennsylvania, not Colorado >

Well I would assume so since the Colorado town is Breckenridge. >

Why was the chief of police even there? >

In rural communities, the chief may be one of two or three or five cops that comprise the whole force. They get a bit more pay, but they do pretty much the same grunt work as any officer. >

You obviously are correct. But just to add, I am from the area, Brackenridge isn’t rural, about 25 minutes from Pittsburgh. It’s just an incredibly small town, it’s gotta be the smallest community nearby and there really isn’t any justification to have its own police force (my opinion). Local communities nearby have consolidated police departments recently. Maybe in the past when the local steel mill was running and in its heyday but not now. >

My cousin lives in Brackenridge. I was surprised to hear that there is a police force, and equally surprised to hear that there's a "downtown" Brackenridge. >

That’s horrible. I feel for his family. 
I have to add that the article is pretty poorly written. They start naming the suspect by his last name, then switch and start naming him by his middle name.