PWPD Hold John K. Powers Memorial Garden Rededication

The John K. Powers Memorial Garden rededication was held Tuesday at 10:30 a.m. the .

Powers, who joined the police force in 1966, “served many years in patrol” and as a guest speaker in the as a safety instructor, said Police Chief William J. Kilfoil, at the dedication.

Powers spent the last 10 years at the PWPD as the school resource officer, until he died unexpectedly on May 21, 1996.

“The week prior to this unfortunate event John was experiencing severe abdominal pain,” Kilfoil told the small gathering of people attending Tuesday’s ceremony. “He wound up in St. Francis Hospital where supposedly routine surgery was performed.”

Powers, however, suffered a cardiac arrest, slipped into a coma and was placed on a respirator. Several days later, his family decided to take him off the respirator.

“With him when he passed on were his son Craig Rothman, Commissioner Jim Duncan and myself,” Kilfoil recalled. “It was a very sad day.”

A wake was held at the , where Powers was a life member. The funeral service at drew “a huge attendance,” Kilfoil recalled.

It was School Resource Tony Guzzello who suggested to create a memorial garden in Powers’ honor. Together with Lou DiLeo, they organized landscapers to volunteer their services and material to create the garden.  The Flower Hill Hose Company donated the plaque, while Scobbo Contracting donated the brickwork and foundation.

Dedicated on Nov. 10, 1996, the garden “became overrun” overtime.  It’s since “been replanted and renewed,” Kilfoil said.

Dominick and Joe Strippoli of supplied the shrubbery “at a very discounted rate,” while Dileo Landscaping provided installation and design, Kilfoil said. 

Commissioner Jim Duncan then dedicated the garden in memory of Police Officer John Powers.