Borough, Police Honor Fallen Brother's Commitment to New Milford

For the next month, the borough of New Milford and its police department will honor one of its own after the death of retired Police Sgt. James Entwistle, 77, on March 21 at a hospital near his Whiteville, N.C. home.

In memory of his dedication to the borough, Mayor Ann Subrizi ordered flags on borough buildings to be lowered to half staff in his honor while police officers will wear mourning bands for a month.

"Those who knew Jim knew him as a caring individual with an incredible sense of humor who was the first to offer his help to anyone in need," Police Chief Frank Papapietro said. "He was a devoted family man who put them before everything in his life. Those of us who worked with him knew he never backed down in the face of dangerous situations and always watched out for those under his command."

Entwistle was a lifelong resident of the borough and joined the police department in 1958 and later made the rank of sergeant in 1968. He retired from the department in 1982 after serving the borough and as a member of P.B.A. Local 83, the N.J. Police Honor Legion, and the Retired and Disabled Police Association of N.J.

Entwistle was honored for bravery by the Borough and the V.F.W. for his attempted rescue of a resident of the New Bridge Inn in a fire that destroyed the building in 1964. He was honored along with Firemen Frank Fyfe and Gustav Schmidt. Sanzari’s Restaurant now stands on the site.

He was also involved in the rescue of four children from a house fire on Henley Avenue. The exact date of that incident is unknown but he was contacted by one of the children years later to personally thank him, according to Papapietro.   

"His sense of humor filled many a slow night and helped us through countless difficult situations and his judge of character was always deadly accurate," Papapietro said. "He will remain forever part of New Milford Police Dept. history and those of us who still serve can learn much from the wisdom and life experiences of his generation of law enforcement officers."

Predeceased by his parents James and Anna (Jolosky) Entwistle, he is survived by his wife of 57 years Gail (Reyelt) Entwistle of Whiteville, N.C., his son James Entwistle and his wife Debra of Garner, N.C., his granddaughter Jaime Penninger and her husband Michael of Benson, N.C., his great- granddaughter Alyssa also of Benson, N.C., and his brother Richard and his wife Sevasty of Southport, N.C.

He was also predeceased by his son William Entwistle who died fighting a fire at the New Milford Municipal Building in 1983.