Nov 4, 2018 4 min read

On a bright, sunny afternoon 10 years ago, a South Strabane Township police officer was killed in the line of duty doing what his family and friends said he was known for, helping others.

Officer Nathan Burnfield, along with several other officers, were driving back from SWAT training at California University of Pennsylvania on Interstate 70 westbound near Bentleyville about 2:20 p.m. Nov. 4, 2008, when he stopped to clear a tire from the highway. The 27-year-old Burnfield was struck and killed by a tri-axle truck. The truck driver also was killed.

Burnfield was hired as a full-time officer in 2002. He also worked for East Washington and Donora police departments and was a lieutenant with Canton Township Volunteer Fire Co.

Family and friends of Burnfield’s, along with fellow police officers and volunteer firefighters, gathered Sunday afternoon at his grave on a hillside at Washington Cemetery to remember him.

The gathering was started by Donald Zofchak, who retired in February as South Strabane police chief, and continued by current Chief Drew Hilk.

“He has been on my mind,” Hilk said.

Burnfield’s locker was moved from the old police station into the new one five years ago.

“We remember his legacy when we see it every day, even the officers who never knew him,” Hilk said. “We always used to hang our hearing notices on the lockers in the old station. I counted 21 notices hanging on his locker. That shows how dedicated he was to his job. We will never forget him.”

His parents, Debbie and Rick Burnfield, were not able to attend this year’s remembrance because of health issues and remained at their home in Cape Coral, Fla. Debbie said they planned to have their own remembrance for their son, placing flowers on the ocean’s waves. They also have a memorial to their son in their home, including an angel whose wings mysteriously came off the first Christmas after his death. The angel had been in a cabinet. Debbie found the wings under the Christmas tree.

Rick Burnfield remembers planting flowers outside when his son, Derrick Burnfield, called from work and said a South Strabane police officer had been hit on the highway. Moments later, he learned it was his son.

“The last 10 years have been very hard, it is still traumatic,” Debbie said. “We are still trying to piece together all what transpired.”

In the days, weeks and months after their son’s death, the Burnfields said that Zofchak, other officers in the department and others were very supportive in helping them.

“It took me three months before I left the house,” she said. “No one should ever have to bury their child.”

The Burnfields decided to move to Florida several years ago.

“There were so many memories at home,” she said. “I kept waiting for him to come home.”

Debbie said it was also hard for their family to see their son’s name on the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial in Washington, D.C., and hear his name read as one of the fallen officers six months later during National Police Week.

“To see that and hear his name read out loud was very hard,” she said.

The hardest thing for the family is they had no closure, no chance to say a last goodbye, she said.

The last night he spent with his son was watching the Pittsburgh Steelers play on Monday night football.

“It was strange, because Nate never really watched professional football,” his dad said. “We watched the game and talked. Nate went to bed at halftime because he had to get up early for training.”

“I have found over the years, more and more people had been touched by Nathan,” he added.

The family formed a scholarship in Nate’s name at his alma mater, Canon-McMillan High School, that is awarded to students pursuing a career as a police officer or in the fire service. She said they have awarded 32 scholarships, to date. The money for the scholarships is raised through a golf outing held each June in Nate’s name.

The family also donated a K-9 to the Cape Coral police department, named Officer Nate Burnfield, in their son’s name. They also have purchased protective vests for K-9s.

“I miss that smile and his grin,” she said. “I just don’t want anyone to forget him. He was a good person, If you needed someone, he was always there to help.”

“The guys respected him,” his mom added. “He was a good police officer.”

Derrick Burnfield attributed the sunny skies Sunday to his brother, who was a big fan of University of Michigan football.

“Nate is looking down on us smiling,” he chuckled. “Michigan beat Penn State. That’s why it is sunny today.”