West Pottsgrove Chief Matthew Stofflet Honored in Ceremony

WEST POTTSGROVE PA – A memorial service and private burial were conducted Wednesday (Jan. 6, 2021) for respected West Pottsgrove Township Police Chief Matthew A. Stofflet, 47, who died Dec. 27 (2020) at his Douglassville home. Police representatives from across the state and elsewhere, who knew or worked with the chief during his more than 20-year law enforcement career, attended along with family members, friends, neighbors, and community residents.

A military honor guard contingent was provided by members of B. G. Elmer S. Friedberg American Legion Post 244 of Sanatoga.

“Born in Reading, he was the son of the late Donald L. Stofflet and Anna M. Rhoads,” his obituary began.

“Matthew was a 1991 graduate of Boyertown High School. Chief Stofflet began serving the public when he joined the United States Marine Corps in 1991 where he finished his service as a corporal. Chief Stofflet then received a degree in criminal justice from Columbia Southern University. From 1996 to 2005, Chief Stofflet worked as a CERT officer for the Montgomery County Correctional Facility.
Additionally, Chief Stofflet worked as a federal police officer at the Pentagon in Washington, D.C.”

“After working on the federal level, Stofflet began working for the Spring City Police Department and eventually started at the West Pottsgrove Township Police Department in 2007. Chief Stofflet is also a graduate of the 275th session of the FBI National Academy.”

“Chief Stofflet was an asset to his department and strived on the principles of community-oriented policing. He will be greatly missed by not only his fellow officers, but his family and the community that he’s proudly served for the last years.”

“Matthew was a 1991 graduate of Boyertown High School. Chief Stofflet began serving the public when he joined the United States Marine Corps in 1991 where he finished his service as a corporal. Chief Stofflet then received a degree in criminal justice from Columbia Southern University. From 1996 to 2005, Chief Stofflet worked as a CERT officer for the Montgomery County Correctional Facility.
Additionally, Chief Stofflet worked as a federal police officer at the Pentagon in Washington, D.C. After working on the federal level, Stofflet began working for the Spring City Police Department and eventually started at the West Pottsgrove Township Police Department in 2007. Chief Stofflet is also a graduate of the 275th session of the FBI National Academy.”

“Chief Stofflet was an asset to his department and strived on the principles of community-oriented policing. He will be greatly missed by not only his fellow officers, but his family and the community that he’s proudly served for the last years.”

“Survived by his son Nick Rubino husband of Jenny; daughters Madi Palatucci wife of Justin and Sam Stofflet companion of Doug; Nicole Rubino, mother of children; grandchildren Hayden and two grandsons on the way; brother Mark Stofflet husband of Lauri; sisters Angela Stofflet and Barbara Stofflet; nieces and nephews Katie, Jackie, MJ, Luke, Jack, Kyle, Alex, and Evelyn; step-mother Barbara Stofflet; step-brothers Chris Stauffer husband of Stacie, Toby Stauffer husband of Jeri, and Ben Stauffer companion of Angela; step-sister Barbi Stauffer; step-nieces and nephews Chloe, Jackson, Alyssa, Aaron, Logan, Jada, and Taliah; and his beloved dog Pepper.”

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made in Matthew’s memory to the West Pottsgrove Police Association, 980 Grosstown Rd., Stowe, PA 19464, or to The National Suicide Prevention Lifeline, here.

Arrangements were with the Catagnus Funeral Home and Cremation Center Inc., 1020 E. Philadelphia Ave., Gilbertsville.

West Pottsgrove department offers its thanks

On the West Pottsgrove Police Department’s Facebook page Wednesday, its staff offered its thanks to “all the agencies, friends, family, and residents for their constant support during these times. We cannot express enough how grateful we are for all the help we’ve received over the last 11 days.”

“Please keep his family in your thoughts and prayers for the days to come,” it asked, and added: “Rest easy, Chief, we’ve got it from here.”

It also noted: “What you leave behind is not what is engraved in stone monuments, but what is woven into the lives of others.”

FBI National Academy Class presents tribute

Representatives of Class 275 at the FBI National Academy, of which Chief Stofflet was a participant and graduate, presented its own tribute to the chief, which appeared Monday (Jan. 4) also on the department Facebook page. It read:

“In January 2019, about 250 strangers from all over the United States and over 25 foreign countries descended on Quantico, Virginia, where we began a 10-week trek through the FBI’s National Academy course. 250 folks from about 25 countries – 275 – that number would become so much more than just a number to us. We were the 275th class to attend the FBI National Academy. We were #275.”

“The #275 had never met, had no major connection other than the fact we all served our communities in various ways and, over the next 10 weeks, we would grow to become a family.”

“The #275 was people from Miami, Florida, to Anchorage, Alaska; from San Diego CA to Ellsworth, Maine. #275 had classmates from Australia to Iceland to the United Kingdom and Chad, Africa. We had no idea when we walked through those doors so many months ago that our lives would be wound so closely together.”

“#275 experienced kids and grandkids being born, sons and daughters joining the same agencies as their parents, marriages, promotions and retirements and now, unfortunately, loss.”

“Chief Matt Stofflet was a massive presence no matter the room he was in. His booming laugh, his large stature, his tattoos and his gentle heart were not easy to miss. We all spent hours in classrooms, dorm rooms and gymnasiums together. Matt was also easy to find and easier to talk to and easier yet to laugh with.”

“We, the FBI NA #275, wish to let the community of West Pottsgrove Township and their Police Department know we grieve with you. The city, county, state, and this country has lost a good man. To Matt’s family, we are so deeply sorry for your loss. He was so proud of his family. Matt was our family too. He was our #275 family.”

“The #275 will continue honor Matt in our daily work. We hope to make the impact he made in West Pottsgrove in our own communities. He led by example, as good leaders do.”

“We are all #275Strong; we are all #ChiefMattStrong. Rest easy, Chief, we have the watch from here.”

“From your family at the FBI National Academy 275th Session.”

Photo from the West Pottsgrove Police Department via Facebook