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Former East Fishkill Colleagues Mourn Retired Poughkeepsie Police Officer

HOPEWELL JUNCTION, N.Y. – The passing of a longtime former Poughkeepsie police officer this week was noted with “great sadness” by his former colleagues in East Fishkill in a Facebook post.

Police Officer John Wiegard

Police Officer John Wiegard

Photo Credit: Legacy.com

John J. Wiegard, a 53-year-old Hopewell Junction resident, died at home Thursday after a brief illness, according to his obituary.

He had officially retired only the day before.

Wiegard worked as a police officer in East Fishkill from 1990 to 1996, when he left to work for the Town of Poughkeepsie Police Department as an acting sergeant.

He also served as the East Fishkill department’s firearms instructor and was a K-9 officer who had a faithful sidekick called Gero.

Wiegard received numerous awards and commendations during his 26-year career, including an award for saving someone’s life, the obituary said.

Born in Poughkeepsie, Wiegard grew up in Wappingers Falls where he attended John Jay High School, graduating in 1981.

He first worked for his dad’s plumbing and heating business and later took a job with the state Department of Corrections as a steamfitter.

He graduated in 1990 from the Dutchess Community College’s first police academy.

Wiegard was the son of Dolores and Harald Wiegard. His father died in 1996.

Besides his mother, Wiegard is survived by his wife, Bonnie (McHoul); children, Jacob, Megan (Hodge) and Kathryn (Quimby); grandchildren Harper Hodge and Charlee and Miles Quimby; and brothers Harold, Michael and Henry.

Visiting hours will be from 4-8 p.m. Sunday, July 24, at the McHoul Funeral Home, 895 Route 82, Hopewell Junction.

A funeral Mass will be celebrated at noon Monday, July 25, at St. Columba Church, 835 Route 82, Hopewell Junction.

Burial will be in St. Denis Cemetery, Beekman Road, Hopewell Junction.

A scholarship fund has been set up to help students who wanted to study law enforcement.

The family said donations can be mailed to: Officer John Wiegard Scholarship Fund, c/o OLL, 131 Boardman Road, Poughkeepsie, N.Y., 12601.

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