The women and men of the PARKESBURG POLICE DEPARTMENT, with heavy hearts, send our condolences to the family Chief Clair Pyle.  Clair passed away this afternoon while surrounded by family.  

Clair Pyle was born on June 23, 1929.  He later served in the United States Army after graduating from high school.  After serving our Country, Clair went on to a career in law enforcement, eventually becoming the Chief of Police in Honey Brook Township.  While serving as the Chief of Police, Clair was introduced to a young man name Brian Sheller.  Clair later hired Brian as a Patrolman after Brian graduated from the police academy.  Over the last 40 years, the relationship between Clair and Brian continued to grow and remained all the way through the passing of Clair today.  Clair was truly proud of Brian as he watched him rise to the rank of the Parkesburg Borough Chief of Police.  A position Brian held for over 30 years.  Their relationship clearly resembled one of a father and a son.  

Over the last 15 years, Clair and his daughter Linda have become Thursday morning fixtures at the police department.  There is a sign posted on the entry door to the kitchen area that reads:

WELCOME TO THE CHIEF CLAIR PYLE COFFEE & DONUT SHOP:  THURS. 8AM-10AM.  EST. BY CLAIR, ADAM & EVE

Clair would make his weekly visit to have coffee with the officers and the staff.  During these years Clair formed another unbreakable friendship with our police departments Administrative Secretary, Ann Smoker.  Clair would refer to Ann as his B-F-F (Best Friends Forever) and they would talk most days.  This bond was truly special.   

Clair established his own relationship with most of our officers and all of us enjoyed his company, every time he showed up.  Those mornings were filled with jokes and stories from a man who couldn't tell you what he had for breakfast, but he could give you a detailed play by play about an investigation he worked in 1975.  The irony in this is found in the fact that Clair chose to come visit the officers of the Parkesburg Police Department even after his son Douglas Pyle lost his life in a motor vehicle accident on Thursday, September 15, 1988.  At the time of this accident, Clair's son was serving as a Patrolman for the Parkesburg Borough Police Department and was on duty when the accident occurred.  Patrolman Douglas Pyle's name is displayed on the Officer Down Memorial Wall in Washington D.C.  Despite the loss of Douglas, Clair still wanted to spend time with us and we cherished every minute of it.

To Chief Clair Pyle; we will forever love you, miss you, and we thank you for touching all of our lives.  Rest well HERO.