EASTHAMPTON — Area officials are mourning the death of Matthew Rice, a Northampton special police officer and Easthampton resident who died unexpectedly at the end of June.
“He was a personal friend of many of us here,” Northampton Police Chief John Cartledge said. “He was a dedicated employee and loved by many of us here and his family.”
Rice, 59, was a member of the Northampton Police Department for nearly 30 years, joining the department in 1995. On June 29, he was found unresponsive in a wooded area behind the Welcome Center on Interstate 91 northbound in Guilford, Vermont, at approximately 9:10 a.m., according to Vermont State Police. Local fire and rescue responded and pronounced him dead shortly after.
“It hit our department very hard and I think about how he was such a respectable human being,” said Lt. Alan Borowski of the Northampton Police Department. “He was really committed to everything he did. He worked a lot of events over the years — a life gone too soon.”
When Borowski was 18 years old, he met Rice playing organized softball, and the two remained friends until his death. Borowski expressed his respect to Rice for his dedication to his family, community and the department.
A preliminary investigation does not indicate the death was suspicious and there is no cause for public concern, according to a statement from Vermont State Police.
“He was well respected in his community and he was overall a great person … words can’t describe his loss,” said Corey Robinson, captain of operations at the Northampton Police Department. “Our thoughts are with his family and it’s hard to put into words how big a loss this is.”
“I extend my deepest condolences to the family, friends, and colleagues of Matthew Rice, an Easthampton resident whose untimely passing has left our community heartbroken,” said Easthampton City Councilor Jason “JT” Tirrell.
Sam Ferland can be reached at sferland@gazettenet.com
