Friday, February 28, 2025: YouTube video of the Funeral held for fallen West York Borough Police Officer Andrew Duarte, February 28, 2025 on Fox 43: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QUA55-pv4Lo&t=4019s
It was one of the hardest fire, police or military funerals I have attended in 50 years. Fortunately I was with several of my brothers and sisters in the Westminster Police Department and Carroll County Sheriff’s office.
I took a number of pictures of the procession. I will post them later.
The toughest part of the funeral occurs during the presentation by West York Borough Chief Matthew Millsaps. Chief Millsaps began his presentation at the1:00:00 mark.
Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro spoke well. His remarks begin just after Pastor made some introductions at the 30:45 mark.
The remarks presented by the Ocean City Police Lt. Dennis Eadie made a great presentation. His remarks began at: 39:00.
Moreover, the presentation by Lt. Alan Ma, Sgt. Ethan Robinson, and Corporal Aaron Botts. They were three DRE and DUI enforcement officers from the Denver Police Department who served with Andrew Duarte when he served in the Denver Police Department. The remarks were led by Lt. Alan Ma were also great and began at: 47:45.
In the presentation by Police Chief Millsaps, he explained that in his small borough department “We only really needed to have 3 rules… rule number one is mission first. If every decision and action you make comes from the heart and is based on what's best for the mission, you will always stay within the general boundaries of what some people call the rules. There's an inherent symbiosis between doing what's right and remaining within guidelines. In a small department we have flexibility. Do what's best for people and let the mission guide you. Always look at everything from mission from a mission first standpoint….
The 2nd rule is “give a damn. On the street, the people you deal with may not look like you, they may not act like you, they not, they may not smell like you or live like you. But someone loves them, or one [they] did. Care about them always. Same for your co-workers and your teammates, and same for yourself. Give a damn.
The 3rd rule “… time cures everything. Nothing else in this world heals quite like time.
At the end of his presentation Chief Millsaps explained how Duarte died: “On Saturday, patrolman Andrew Duarte … was dispatched to a hospital in a neighboring community for the report of an active shooter.
“The 2nd or 3rd to arrive, he got out of his car and in one fluid motion slung his rifle over his shoulder and extended it … while running into the front door. Along with another officer, he made his way hastily to the area the shooter was purported to be in, covering down on any potential avenues of escape or threat while also looking for the injured… officers assembled and were made aware that this was a hostage situation.
“Drafting a plan for a hostage rescue. A mission that serves no higher calling. A threat emerged with a hostage in one hand and a firearm in in another. And engagement ensued. War is a game of angles, inches, and seconds. The hostage was rescued. The threat was eliminated. But sometimes those angles and inches don't play out in our favor. Andrew was shot, and he knew he was shot. He verbalized it and said as much.
“Andrew had made it to cover, but once there saw a downed officer still in a compromised position. Andrew's last physical act on the face of this earth was to run back towards the threat area and help drag the downed officer to safety while holding his hand. When they made it to cover Andrew collapsed and died. He had run towards the threat. He was part of a team that saved the life of a hostage and numerous other people. And as he was dying, he held the hand of a brother officer who he had helped drag to cover. He put the mission first and he gave a damn. I only pray that I'll go the same way.”
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