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Lining Up To Pay Respects

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By KYLE MARTIN

Hernando Today

Published: February 25, 2009

Updated: 02/25/2009 11:35 pm

SPRING HILL - Hundreds of people from miles around gathered on Wednesday to mourn the death of a sheriff's captain.

Speaking to a sea of uniforms packed shoulder to shoulder at St. Theresa's Catholic Church, the Rev. James McAteer offered a prayer of thanksgiving for the life of Capt. Scott Bierwiler.

"He was a good man, a good peace officer and a good citizen," McAteer said.

News of Bierwiler's sudden death last Thursday sent a shockwave of grief that was felt from here to New Jersey. The 42-year-old sheriff's office veteran was killed in a head-on collision as he drove to work.

In the interval before Wednesday's funeral, Bierwiler was remembered by his survivors as a loyal family man and an honest deputy destined for the sheriff's seat.
McAteer touched on these subjects as he highlighted the life of the New York native. He described Bierwiler as a "highly decorated" official who followed his childhood dream to join law enforcement. His 20-year marriage to wife, Angie, was "much too short," McAteer said.

Bierwiler is also survived by three children: Kayla, 18, Kiley, 16, and a 9-year-old son, Scottie Jr.
McAteer quoted scripture to bring spiritual comfort to the grieving.

"We believe death is not the last word," he said.

Mourners Came Early

Although the funeral Mass technically began at 12:30 p.m., mourners were arriving in droves by 11 a.m. Amid the civilians in suit coats was a patchwork of uniforms from agencies across the Tampa Bay area, Central Florida and as far south as Miami-Dade County.

Capt. Todd Peney, an Honor Guard from the Ft. Lauderdale Police Department, said he and his colleagues drove five hours to pay their respects.

"It's just the point of coming and paying your respect and showing that his death wasn't for nothing and that he did matter," Peney said.

At noon, the pews were packed and the overflow spilled into the adjacent fellowship hall. The metal folding chairs were full with at least 150 people by the time the Mass began. People continued to trickle in throughout the ceremony.

Show Of Solidarity

The show of solidarity extended beyond the church on Commercial Way. Law enforcement from an array of agencies volunteered to control traffic along the procession route so that local deputies could attend the services.

At least 15 Hillsborough County sheriff's cruisers were spotted along the first mile of Spring Hill Drive east of Commercial Way. They were supplemented by Citrus County deputies and the Florida Highway Patrol.

Dozens of people also lined the route, many of them clutching American flags. Not far from the church, at U.S. 19 and Pepper Street, John Morridian waited patiently on the road's shoulder.

Bierwiler's father, the late Sgt. Frank Bierwiler, frequently patronized Morridian's barbershop and often brought his son along. Morridian remembers little Scott Bierwiler as a "very smart boy."

"This is quite a loss," Morridian said of Bierwiler's death.

Farther east on Spring Hill Drive, at the corner of Noah Avenue, Earl Landgraff stood on the sidewalk with a large American flag he usually flies outside his house. Bierwiler's death struck close to home because Landgraff's son is also a deputy.

Landgraff, a Vietnam veteran, chose to salute the procession because, in his opinion, law enforcement is often a thankless job.

"It's the least we can do to show respect," Landgraff said.

At the procession's terminus, Florida Hills Memorial Gardens , a large American flag was hung between the ladders of two fire trucks.

Kermit Fernandez and his wife were on hand to show their support for Bierwiler's family.

"It's the American thing to do," he said.

New Channel 8 reporter Katie Coronado contributed to this report. Reporter Kyle Martin can be reached at 352-544-5271 or kmartin@hernandotoday.com.

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