The Schuylkill County Sheriff’s Dept. recently unveiled a special memorial wall inside its offices at Schuylkill County Courthouse. The memorial honors the service and lives of Sgt. Keith Berezwick and Deputy Matthew Dillman, who each were taken from the force by cancer in the last five years.
The wall is painted black with a stripe of blue streaking through the middle. The Schuylkill County Sheriff logo is flanked by handpainted versions of their badges. Underneath is the phrase “In every badge lies a promise to protect; let’s honor that promise with our gratitude.” The wall was painted by Carrie Miller, an art teacher in the North Schuylkill School District.
For Schuylkill County Sheriff Shawn Butler, the wall serves a significant meaning. He says he served with both for numerous years in the department and knew each personally for many years. During Tuesday’s ceremony at the office to unveil the wall – surrounded by friends, family, current deputies, and former Sheriff’s Dept. employees – Butler was at times emotional as he read a statement he prepared.
Butler said he grew up with Berezwick and played Little League Baseball with him. And with Dillman, he remembers going through Military Entrance Processing alongside him.
“It’s small compared to what they did for us,” Butler says, speaking of the memorial wall. “These men wore their badge with pride. They answered the call in moments of danger, stood beside their fellow deputies, and served the community with courage, professionalism, and compassion.”
The Sheriff says Berezwick and Dillman showed that same character as each battled cancer.
“Even though cancer may have taken them from us all too soon, it will never take away their legacy. Their names, their service, and the impact they had on their families, friends, co-workers, and the community will forever remain part of this office’s history,” Butler says.
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