Jamie Bock’s earliest memories of Justin McIntire are of him as a boy, running around and playing on Third Avenue in Brackenridge where he grew up.

McIntire was 8 years old when he was given an “unofficial” role in Bock’s wedding to his wife, Jennifer, on April 27, 1985. He handed out programs while his sister, Tiffany, was the flower girl and his brother, Brandon, was the ring bearer.

Bock saw McIntire grow from a boy to a man and become a police officer, like him, in the town they each called home. Bock was his chief until he retired in 2018 and saw McIntire succeed him.

“He was always very calm, very conscientious and reliable. I never had a problem with him. I wish all police were as good as he was,” Bock said. “I was honored to see that he took my place.”

Bock didn’t realize what was going on Jan. 2 when he saw police cars — lights and sirens on — rushing down California Avenue while he was walking his dog. Later, Sgt. Mike Duffy called Bock and told him an officer was down.

McIntire was killed in an ambush while pursuing a wanted man four years to the day that McIntire officially took over as chief from Bock.

“He was like a son to me,” Bock said. “I’ll never forget him.”

‘He loved Brackenridge’

After graduating from Highlands High School in 1994 and the Allegheny County Police Academy in 1999, McIntire worked part time as a police officer in communities including Brackenridge, East Deer and Springdale until he was hired full time in Brackenridge.

“Justin loved his family, he loved being a police officer, he loved Brackenridge Borough, and he loved the outdoors,” retired East Deer police Chief John Mancini said. “Justin was a very good officer. He was a better person.”

Mancini, who retired two years ago, said he stayed in touch with McIntire and would see him every few weeks. Having supervised McIntire at the start of his career, Mancini said he was proud of him.

“When you hear people say someone would give the shirt off their back, he literally would,” Mancini said. “He wasn’t selfish. He never had a bad word to say about anybody, never.”

McIntire always wanted to be an officer — and a chief, Mancini said.

“He was just so happy to be back in his hometown of Brackenridge,” he said. “That’s what he always wanted to do. He always wanted to be there.”

Former Springdale police Chief Joe Naviglia remembered McIntire as a good, community-oriented police officer. He believed Springdale was the first department to hire McIntire.

“He came to me as a rookie,” Naviglia said. “He was good with the community. We had no complaints on him at all.”

McIntire worked in Springdale for only two or three years, and Naviglia said he was sorry to see him go. They lost touch for a time until Naviglia started working for the Highlands School District and would see McIntire when dealing with students from Brackenridge.

In recent years, they saw each other often at football games and school events.

“He was a pillar of the community, in the uniform and out of the uniform,” Naviglia said.

McIntire’s death in the line of duty was devastating.

“Years ago, when I first started, you’d have to worry about maybe taking a punch or something like that. Now, when you go out, you’re worried about getting shot and possibly killed,” he said. “It takes a special person to put that uniform on and go out today, especially knowing there’s a possibility they could get shot or possibly could get killed.”

‘He was an excellent chief’

McIntire’s death opens old wounds and brings back painful memories.

Bock has attended funerals for other slain officers, including Saxonburg Chief Greg Adams and Apollo Officer Leonard Miller, both in 1980; Derek Kotecki in Lower Burrell in 2011; and New Kensington’s Brian Shaw in 2017.

“At each one, I hoped I would never have to attend another one,” he said.

It’s going to take a long time for Brackenridge to recover from the loss of McIntire, Bock said.

“I don’t know if you ever totally recover,” he said. “You have to move on. Unfortunately, you will have the bad memories.”

Residents should remember that McIntire was a kind, good, family man, Bock said.

“In my opinion,” he said, “he was an excellent chief.”

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