A motorcade of about 20 law enforcement officers escorted McClure’s body Tuesday afternoon from the morgue to Brown-Dawson Funeral Home. A visitation is 10 a.m. to noon followed by the funeral at noon Friday at Brown-Dawson, 1350 Millville Ave.
McClure, a Hamilton High School grad, was talking to fellow officer and good friend Ryan Hensley when he dropped the phone and Hensley heard gasping.
“He said he had had chest pains on Saturday,” Hensley said.
Hensley called 911 and a Hamilton emergency unit transported McClure to Fort Hamilton Hospital, where he was pronounced dead.
Friends since meeting while working court security duty, Hensley said McClure had a work ethic that he shares.
“He was a hard worker,” Hensley said. “If a supervisor had something that needed done, Jesse wanted to be the person to get it done.”
Hensley and McClure shared family barbecues and loved playing golf. Recently, McClure took motorcycle trips with his wife, Lori, who gave him the bike for their anniversary.
“I will miss him. I am really glad I got to talk to him,” Hensley said, noting it is hard to believe his friend is gone.
Deputy Joe Gray patrolled the west side of the county along with McClure who he said was his best friend. “It is just so hard, He was only 42. It doesn’t seem real,” Gray said, noting his best friend always wanted to help people, reasoning that is why he chose law enforcement as a profession.
Chief Deputy Anthony Dwyer said personnel cuts and dealing with budgetary shortfalls have taken its toll on the department, “Now we have lost one of our officers. It is very difficult.”
He said McClure earned a lifesaving award in 2007 when he and another deputy performed CPR on a man who was not breathing and were able to resuscitate him.
McClure leaves behind his wife, Lori, and two children, Jared and Shelby McClure.
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