A retired Atlantic County Prosecutor's Office detective was remembered as a leader and motivator this week.
William McIntyre died June 7 with his family by his side. He was 73.
Atlantic County Chief of Detectives Bruce DeShields credited “Mac” with much of his success and said he continues to pass along what he learned to others.
“Mac had a larger than life personality,” said DeShields who was a sergeant with McIntyre in the Atlantic County Prosecutor’s Office Major Crimes Unit.
“When you caught a homicide, he would stay on top of you by challenging you,” DeShields said. “He taught me to think of investigations like a chess game: Study what you see and what you don’t see. Plan out your moves, always think at least three moves ahead. If you hit a dead end, move onto another angle.”
But it was Mac’s “passion for the job” that earned DeShields’ ultimate respect.
“He had a fiery temper and he knew how to motivate,” the county’s lead detective recalled. “You did not want to be on the end of one of those speeches. But what I loved the most about him was his spirit of comradery.
“Mac had a way about him that made you want to work as a team,” DeShields said. “With him, there was no ‘I.’”
McIntyre began his service at 17, when he enlisted in the U.S. Marines.
He completed two tours in Vietnam as a demolitions expert, receiving medals for his bravery including the National Defense Service Medial, the Vietnam Campaign Medal with device, the Vietnam Service Medal, the Presidential Unit Citation, the Rifle Expert Badge and the Good Conduct Medal, according to his obituary.
His law enforcement career began in Somers Point as a patrolman. He then moved to Northfield, ultimately ending up with the Atlantic County Prosecutor’s Office, where he spent more than 20 years.
He completed his career in homicide, where he retired as a detective sergeant.
“What I learned from Mac, I pass along to others hoping that the pride he instilled in me, I instill into others,” DeShields said.
McIntyre used his expertise in collecting and preserving evidence to work as an FBI consultant, working on the development of the DNA database CODIS, or Combined DNA Index System.
He ended his career running the Atlantic County Pistol Range as a police firearms instructor.
He is lovingly remembered by his wife of 50 years, Eileen, a retired Margate teacher, along with their son, Terry McIntyre; daughter and son-in-law, Meghan and Jeff Klauder; grandchildren, Makayla, Kieran, and Vivienne; sister, Andrea Hansberry (nee McIntyre); nephew, Michael Hansberry and niece, Sara Calabrese (nee Hansberry).
He was predeceased by his parents: Gloria McIntyre (nee Heffernan) and Andrew McIntyre; sister, Tricia McIntyre.
