Local law enforcement attends funeral for Chief McIntire
Numerous members of the county law enforcement community were among the thousands of people who attended Wednesday’s funeral service for Brackenridge police Chief Justin McIntire.
McIntire, 46, was killed Jan. 2 while on duty in Brackenridge pursuing a Duquesne man wanted for weapons-related parole violations and eluding police. McIntire was a police officer for 22 years. He was appointed chief in 2019.
The funeral was at Mount St. Peter Church in New Kensington. McIntire’s body was taken by horse-drawn carriage to the church from the Ross G. Walker Funeral Home, which is about a block away.
Mourners filled the church and gathered outside for the funeral, which was aired on television inside another church in the area. Following the service, a funeral procession traveled from the church to Mount Airy Cemetery in Harrison Township, where a private service was conducted.
Butler County Sheriff Mike Slupe said deputies and officers from police departments in the county attended the funeral. State police troopers also attended.
“I sent two cars with deputies who actually knew the chief, lived in the area or worked in the area, and obviously had a desire to be part of the procession,” Slupe said.
He said attending the funeral showed respect to McIntire’s family and solidarity among law enforcement.
“It’s a huge sign of solidarity and it’s solemn, and if you really think deeply about it, it could have been any officer,” Slupe said.
State police troopers from Troop D, which includes the Butler barracks, were among the hundreds of troopers who attended the service.
“Troop D sent numerous members to the chief’s funeral, to attend the funeral service and procession to follow. Troop D members and all state police members are wearing the department mourning pin on the uniforms,” said Trooper Joshua Black, community services officer for Troop D in Butler.
“This pin is to show respect and gratitude when a law enforcement officer is killed in the line of duty. The pin is worn from the time the incident occurred until the officer is laid to rest. The pin is worn on the left pocket of the trooper’s shirt. It’s important that Troop D participate in the chief’s funeral as a way to say thank you for your service and to let the chief’s family know that even though we are from different police departments, we are all in this together, as a law enforcement community.”
Fred Caesar, volunteer curator for the Saxonburg Museum, said he attended the funeral to photograph a Saxonburg police car at the service, and was overwhelmed by the turnout of police, other first responders and citizens.
“There were hundreds and hundreds of police cars. It was so emotional to see the outpouring and support for this chief,” Caesar said. “The crowd, they were all humble. You saw men saluting, kids waving flags, people with ‘back the blue’ signs.
“You couldn’t be there and not be moved.”
From the county, he said he saw vehicles from the Saxonburg, Butler City, Butler Township, Buffalo Township and Middlesex Township police departments. He said he also saw many state police and Pittsburgh vehicles and vehicles from police departments in Erie, eastern Pennsylvania and West Virginia.
“It was just so remarkable. It was so respectful for a man who gave his life for his community,” Caesar said.
Tarentum police officer Jordan Schrecengost, who was shot in the leg while pursuing the suspect who shot McIntire, also attended the service.
