Vigil for Brackenridge chief set for Thursday; yard signs also available

The late Brackenridge police Chief Justin McIntire will be honored with a community vigil Thursday at the same community park where he played as a child.

People are invited to attend the candlelight event at 7 p.m. in Brackenridge Memorial Park along First Avenue.

“It’s really just a time for us to be in community with each other,” Mayor Lindsay Fraser said.

McIntire, 46, was shot and killed Monday during a pursuit of Aaron Lamont Swan Jr., 28, of Duquesne. Swan was later killed by police in Pittsburgh’s Homewood-Brushton neighborhood.

McIntire, a 1994 Highlands graduate, was a Brackenridge native who grew up along Third Avenue.

The vigil will be informal, with attendees asked to wear blue and bring a candle if they want.

“We’ll have some people say a few words, but this is really just a space for people to come together and share stories and share grief,” Fraser said.

The park is situated along the Allegheny River, across from the Brackenridge American Legion.

At the same time, people can request a “We Support Our Police” yard sign to show support.

The posters were designed by attorney Ed Kress and are being distributed at the Tarentum and Brackenridge municipal offices.

Tarentum Councilwoman Carrie Fox said she was contacted Tuesday about doling out signs and didn’t hesitate.

“Absolutely, the borough is all for it,” Fox said.

The signs are free. There will be several printings if supplies run out.

“People are buzzing about them,” Fox said. “We hope we need hundreds more.”

The signs will serve as a continued show of support for all police, especially Brackenridge, where council is expected to appoint longtime Sgt. Mike Duffy as the interim head of the four-member police department Thursday night.

Fraser said there is no timeline for formal changes to the department.

“Right now, our focus is on grieving, being in community with each other and laying Chief McIntire to rest,” Fraser said. “We don’t know how we’ll rebuild or what that will look like, but we are so grateful to each and every person and department who is helping us get through this awful time.”