Public pays final respects to Jefferson Hills officer

By ERIC SEIVERLING

eseiverling@yourmvi.com

Police officers and first responders from near and far descended upon Jefferson Hills Friday to pay their respects to police Officer Dale Provins Jr., who died June 13 after being involved in a two-car collision June 3.

Provins’ public viewing was held at the Jefferson Hills Municipal Complex on Old Clairton Road, and his funeral is scheduled for today at Round Hill Cemetery in Elizabeth. 

Police departments represented at the viewing included Pleasant Hills, South Park Township, Brentwood, Allegheny County, Forward Township, Findlay Township, West Mifflin, O’Hara Township, Peters Township, Avalon Borough, Cecil Township, McKees Rocks, Elizabeth – West Elizabeth, South Strabane, White Oak, Baldwin and Mt. Lebanon.

Also at the viewing were sheriffs from Allegheny and Washington counties and representatives from Pittsburgh Emergency Medical Services, Southeast Regional Medical Services, EMS West and Pittsburgh Public Safety.

Inside the borough’s municipal complex, family, friends and residents stood in line to say a final farewell to Provins, who had two Jefferson Hills police officers standing guard next to his casket.

Prior to the viewing, Jefferson Hills officials spoke about the impact of losing a public servant the likes of Provins.

“He was quiet and very thorough,” said Jefferson Hills Mayor Jan Cmar. “He was a very nice person. He did his job and didn’t expect any praise for it. 

“His mother told me he always wanted to be a police officer. I just feel so bad. There were officers at the hospital 24/7 from the day they brought him in. Every officer had tears in their eyes. He just touched every person. The community is devastated by it.”

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