Hudson Valley Police Department Honors Officer Killed 67 Years Ago (Photos)

The Port Jervis Police Department is honoring and remembering an officer who was killed in the line of duty 67 years ago.

Officer John MacKechnie made the ultimate sacrifice on March 18, 1949. He left behind a wife and two young children. He was killed after being beaten and strangled by a mentally unstable person at Port Jervis City Hall.

Harold Brundage was taken into custody after reports that was acting strangely. He was placed in the basement of city hall, which was used a police evidence room, while officials were waiting for a psychologist to arrive to evaluate him.

MacKechnie was seated at a desk writing notes near Brundage. Brundage grabbed a double shotgun that was stored as evidence and knocked MacKechnie unconscious. He then strangled MacKechnie with his uniform necktie.

After killing MacKechnie, Brundage ran upstairs and yelled that he had killed the devil.

MacKechnie had served with the Port Jervis Police Department for 8 years. He was 38 years old. He and his wife Kathleen celebrated their tenth anniversary the day before he was killed. They had a daughter, Kathleen, then 6 years old and a son, John L., then 17 months old. He is buried at St Mary's Cemetery in Port Jervis, New York.

Brundage was committed to Matteawan State Hospital.

MacKechnie's nickname was "Mack." Today the Port Jervis Police Department remember and honor him with their K-9 "Mac.'