Hundreds gather in Brackenridge to honor Chief Justin McIntire

A squadron of Pittsburgh police motorcycles roared down Morgan Street in Brackenridge just before 7 p.m. Thursday to lead a procession for fallen borough police Chief Justin McIntire.

Rounding the corner onto First Avenue, their sirens wailed to greet a crowd of about 1,000 people who converged at Brackenridge Memorial Park, some watching from across the street. Some held candles; others waved Thin Blue Line flags.

All of them appeared to share a common grief for the 46-year-old McIntire, who was killed Monday in the line of duty.

“This is of utmost importance to us to show our support to someone who died so tragically and unnecessarily,” said Pittsburgh police Lt. David Meade.

“I can’t remember the last time we lost a chief. This is huge.”

Luminaries lined the walkway to the park’s war memorial where clusters of families and friends shared stories about McIntire, a Brackenridge native who by all accounts shunned the spotlight in favor of time with family or hunting with friends.

“He was like one of our sons,” said former longtime Highlands School Board member Debbie Beale. “He grew up with our kids. This town will never be the same to me.”

Family friend Carol Chifulini attended the vigil to pay her respects to someone she considered “a great guy.”

“He didn’t deserve what he got,” she said, “but he deserves what’s here.”

Former Brackenridge police Chief Jamie Bock addressed the crowd; he had to pause several times to wipe away tears. He was McIntire’s boss nearly 20 years.

“This is one of the hardest things I’ve ever had to do,” said Bock, who worked as an officer with McIntire’s dad, Lee, in the borough. He watched McIntire grow up and called him hardworking and sensitive, saying he had what it takes to be a great chief.

“All of our hearts are broken,” Bock said.

The Rev. Chester Howell, pastor of Shiloh Baptist Church on Ninth Avenue, told the crowd they could never begin to understand why Monday’s tragedy unfolded.

“We have to trust God with every feeling of grief and support Justin’s family in a loving way,” Howell said. “We have to feel lucky to have had him.”

Nick Chybrzynski, pastor at Generations House of Worship on Parkside Drive, said the crowd was a testament to McIntire and to the community.

“It really sucks that it takes a tragedy to show us how much we love each other,” he said. “If we can hurt together, we can heal together.”

He encouraged people to put their fists in the face of evil and fill the community with love.

“Clean the streets, put your dogs on leashes, be kind to each other,” he said. “May the world hear how God healed Brackenridge, Harrison and Tarentum stronger than ever.”

Many people that filled the park and nearby streets had never met the late chief.

Herman Staple, a retired Pittsburgh officer from New Kensington, said he wanted to pay respect to “a brother.”

Amy Hamm of Harrison said she was uplifted to see the numerous officers from across the region.

Just to name a few, police came from Brentwood, McKeesport, Franklin Park, O’Hara, North Huntingdon, New Kensington, Murrysville, Mt. Lebanon, Tarentum, the Southern Armstrong Regional Police, Allegheny Valley Regional Police and the Armstrong County Sheriff’s Office.

“We live here, and even though I didn’t know him, I feel the emotion of it all,” Hamm said.

Resident Anthony Thomas said he turned out to the vigil to mourn “a senseless killing.”

“He stood up first and up front, running this community,” Thomas said. “It’s a hard loss.”

Jeramie Bell, 20, of New Kensington didn’t know McIntire personally, but said the chief helped his family members in Brackenridge through some tough times.

“He was there when they needed him,” said Bell, who carried a large Thin Blue Line flag. “It sucks (that he’s gone). It really does. The police don’t get enough support.”

Bell’s mother, Jessica Haskins of Brackenridge, said McIntire would often stop and chat with her and her other children; particularly when the young ones were our riding their bicycles.

“He even shared some of his experiences and (told) them to keep their helmets on,” Haskins said. “He was one of those types of people who talked to everybody. He didn’t have a problem with anybody. As soon as we heard (about the shooting) it was just a shock.”

Haskins said police are essential to a community, and more people should support them.

“If something happens, they’re the first ones you’re going to call,” she said.

“When you live in a small town like this, everybody’s a family. It’s no longer a community. It’s a family. We all stick together. That’s what you have to do.”

Pioneer Hose Co. fire Chief Rick Jones and other firefighters assisted with traffic control. First Avenue was closed from Locust Lane to Brackenridge Beverage for the vigil. Jones was pleased with the massive vigil turnout.

Jones said he’s known McIntire for years.

“There’s no doubt he was awesome, kind (and) gentle,” Jones said. “He’ll be remembered as a great guy, a good chief, fair.”

He hopes whoever takes over as police chief would have a similar community mindset.

“They’ll have big shoes to fill, that’s for sure,” Jones said. “I would hope they would carry on in his footsteps. Just treat everybody the same way he did. As you can see everybody loved him.”

Brackenridge Council appointed Sgt. Mike Duffy as officer-in-charge on Thursday night. Duffy will lead the police force in that capacity until a chief is named.

Marian Petit of Brackenridge and Kelly Magnetta of Tarentum stood side by side at the vigil both holding a lit candle and a small Thin Blue Line flag.

They both knew McIntire and his family, and fought back tears when talking about him.

“He deserves it all,” Petit said about the outpouring of support. “What an honorable guy he was. How kind and compassionate and caring for his community, and protecting us all.”

“He was a standup guy. Anybody would be happy to know him,” Magnetta said. “He was a hero.”