Lifelong Sewickley Firefighter Also Spent a Career Fighting Crime

A and lifelong member of who served for years as a Pittsburgh homicide detective died on Saturday at his borough home. He was 91. 

Joseph Start was a World War II veteran who spent 28 years as a county detective, starting shortly after he returned home from serving with the Army Air Forces, according to the Pittsburgh Post Gazette. 

Cochran Hose Fire Chief Jeff Neff said Start was a longtime member of the fire company, since joining in 1961. Start served 25 years before retiring from the fire department in 1986. He continued as a lifetime member, serving in that capacity for another 25 years, Neff said.

"He'll be greatly missed and was well liked by everybody," Neff said. 

The flag at the borough municipal building was flying at half staff Monday in remembrance of Start. Visitation for Start was held Monday at in Sewickley.

Start served as captain of the Pittsburgh's homicide unit in the 1960s and held the post for a decade until he was fired by District Attorney Jack Hickton -- father of today's U.S. attorney in Pittsburgh, David Hickton -- in a political shake-up that cost a dozen other detectives their jobs, the Post Gazette said.

according to the Post-Gazette, Start also worked briefly as a private investigator for several lawyers before starting a job as secretary in in 1974. He retired in 1986.

His obituary states that he is survived by his wife Suzanne and his sons, Jay of Vandergrift and Jefrey of Erie.

Do you have fond memories of Joseph Start? Tell us in the comments.