Brackenridge changes street name in memory of police Chief Justin McIntire

Brackenridge Council changed a street name in memory of their fallen police chief while continuing to weigh options on future police coverage.

Third Avenue will be known as McIntire Way, in memory of the late police Chief Justin McIntire, who was killed in the line of duty on the street Jan. 2.

Council unanimously passed the change Thursday night.

“He deserves it,” council President Timothy Connelly said after the meeting. “That’s the least we can do. He’s a hero.”

McIntire was ambushed by a fugitive that he and police from neighboring communities had been pursuing. He died near the intersection of Third Avenue and Morgan Street. He was 46.

Justin’s mother, Lori McIntire, who has lived on Third Avenue for 50 years and where her son grew up, thanked council for the family’s recognition.

“It’s what we wanted all along,” she said. “It’s going to give me some comfort. That’s the street he died on. That’s five doors down from my front door.”

The change goes into effect May 6.

The McIntire family plans on working with the borough on a name changing ceremony some time next month.

Lori McIntire announced the family plans install a memorial bench along the Three Rivers Heritage Trail. A location along the trail has not been selected.

In the meantime, borough officials plan to work with residents of that street and other elected leaders to make sure address updates go smoothly.

Mayor Lindsay Fraser said chiefs of staff from state Rep. Mandy Steele, D-Fox Chapel, state Sen. Lindsey Williams, D-West View, and U.S. Rep. Chris Deluzio, D-Aspinwall, all of whom represent Brackenridge, will be informed of the coming change.

“I think it is an appropriate way to honor our chief, who dedicated so much of himself to our borough,” Fraser said. “Now that council has voted to approve this action, we can move forward coordinating with those offices in order to offer our residents services to ease the transition.”

Brackenridge police’s future

Brackenridge has three full-time officers. State police help fill in shifts to maintain 24-hour coverage.

Borough secretary Denise Tocco said the borough had budgeted $568,000 for police this year, which would pay for five full-time officers. The department had four full-timers, including McIntire, at the start of the year.

“Our options are to rebuild within Brackenridge or join efforts with another community,” Fraser said. “It would be irresponsible of us to not consider the long-term impacts of any of those decisions before moving forward.

“We’ve had conversations with lots of (police) chiefs throughout the past several months.”

The mayor would not say which police departments, only that they were in “surrounding communities,” and “nothing is off the table.”

Fraser said Brackenridge would need to have six full-time officers in order to be fully staffed, and maybe more to be ready for the passing of possible state legislation that would require officers to be accompanied by a partner in a “critical crime area” as designated by the state Attorney General’s Office.

That requirement was part of a bill introduced in the House of Representatives and posted in late February. It’s unclear when, or if, that bill may come up for a vote.

“If there’s legislation on the horizon that’s going to require two officers, then that’s something we also need to consider,” the mayor said. “Can we even afford to meet our state obligations?”

In other business

• Fraser announced a spaghetti dinner benefiting the McIntire family was a huge success and served more than 1,000 dinners. The event took place March 11 at the Pioneer Hose Fire Hall.

• Council approved a request from Generations House of Worship to close Atlantic Avenue from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday for its annual community Easter celebration.

• Council approved a request from Trinity United Methodist Church to have a storytime in the park at the pavilion from 10 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Wednesdays from June 14 through Aug. 9.