Letter to the editor: Rest in peace, Chief McIntire

The horrific death of our beloved Brackenridge Police Chief Justin McIntire has devastated our community.

It brought to mind a song by James Taylor, “Fire and Rain.” The words “Just yesterday morning, they let me know you were gone” echo the stunned feelings of everyone throughout our humble community. This is something no one ever imagined happening here. What we lost can never be restored.

Sadly, one thing this tragedy shows is the love and respect we will always have for McIntire. He is a true hero. He did his job and gave up his life to protect the citizens of this community. Deep gratitude also goes out to Tarentum Officer Jordan Schrecengost. I can’t imagine what this courageous young man is feeling knowing that he, too, could have been killed, and the loss of his brother in arms.

Our community is blessed to have the local police departments of Brackenridge, Tarentum and Harrison. I suggest that the next time you see any of them, you thank them for their service.

The shots that wounded Schrecengost and killed McIntire wounded everyone in our communities. We not only lost a chief, we lost a son, a brother, a neighbor and a friend.

The closing line in “Fire and Rain” is “I’ve seen lonely times when I could not find a friend, but I always thought that I’d see you again.” Yes, Justin, you’ve seen fire and you’ve seen rain. That rain is our many tears. May God bless your family. Thank you for your courageous sacrifice. May you rest in peace.

Edward A. Svitek

Brackenridge