Honoring Chief Clair Pyle
The Parkesburg Police Department mourns Clair Pyle, a U.S. Army veteran and longtime law enforcement leader who died surrounded by family. Colleagues remember his decades of mentorship, weekly coffee visits and enduring ties to the department.
Clair Pyle, born June 23, 1929, served in the U.S. Army and built a career in law enforcement that included serving as chief of police in Honey Brook Borough. He mentored Brian Sheller—who later served as Parkesburg Borough chief for more than 30 years—was a weekly Thursday presence at the Parkesburg Police Department, and remained close with staff including administrative secretary Ann Smoker. Despite the 1988 on-duty death of his son Patrolman Douglas Pyle (whose name is on the Officer Down Memorial Wall), Clair continued to visit and support the department until his passing.