Pocono News Section

Fond Farewell to Officer Dean Eckart

Fond Farewell to Officer Dean Eckart - Wednesday, June 18, 2008 at 4:24PM EST

Reported by: Jill Konopka
Wednesday, Jun 18, 2008 @ 04:24pm EST
BERWICK, COLUMBIA COUNTY- A friend to everyone. That's how a Salem Township policeman is being remembered. Officer Dean Eckart died suddenly from a heart attack.

Wednesday, hundreds of mourners came to pay their last respects. A long line of state and local police join firefighters and E. M.T’s to bid a final farewell to Dean Eckart.

The 55-year-old Salem Township Police Officer and firefighter died this week from a heart attack, two hours after his shift ended. Salem Township Police Chief Robert Kishbaugh said, "It's a big loss. He's been a brother for 26 years; it's a very hard time right now. "

Across the Street from the funeral home, Fred McAfee was also mourning. The retired fireman once worked with Eckart. McAfee told Eyewitness News, "He was pretty good. We had gone fishing with him. It's a sad day in Berwick."

Others came out in memory of the man who also acted as a local crossing guard at Salem Elementary. Officer Eckart crossed Vanessa and Austin Aten. Tracy Aten added, "He made sure they got across the street safely. Yes, he was a very very nice guy."

The field at the school is where a special ceremony took place after Eckart's funeral. It came to an end with a state police helicopter flyover and one last call from Luzerne County 9-1-1. But Dean's memory will forever live on in the minds of many. Chief Kishbaugh added, "Probably his sense of humor and just being there. If anything needed to be done, he was always there."

Eckart leaves behind his wife Karen, three sons and a daughter.