NEPBA MOURNS ONE OF OUR OWN AFTER VALIANT FIGHT WITH CANCER

Police mourn Hampstead officer’s death

By JASON SCHREIBER
Union Leader Correspondent

HAMPSTEAD — Members of the Hampstead Police Department and the local law enforcement community are mourning the death of officer Matt Moore, who lost his 15-month battle with brain cancer on Saturday.
The 38-year-old Moore is being remembered for his dedication to his job and the family he loved, which included his wife, Terri, a Windham police officer, and daughters, Brynn, 5, and McKenna, 2.

“I’ve viewed Matt as a close friend and a true professional. I think many people viewed Matt as a cop’s cop. He was always someone who was willing to help anyone out,” Hampstead police Sgt. Bob Kelley said.

A Hampstead resident, Moore was one of the department’s eight full-time officers who was forced to take a medical leave in October 2014 when doctors discovered a cancerous brain tumor after he suffered a seizure while attending a child’s birthday party.

Moore underwent rigorous treatment as he fought the cancer with the support of his family and the law enforcement community, which organized fundraisers to help him through the difficult time.

Police stepped up to help out in any way they could over the past 15 months.

“All of us here at the police department have either helped take him to doctor’s appointments or helped with whatever the family needed,” Hampstead police Lt. John Frazier said.

Moore worked as an officer with the Pelham and Sandown police departments before joining the Hampstead force in 2008. He was also a Marine veteran who served in Iraq before beginning his career in law enforcement.

“He did his job very thoroughly and was a great addition when we hired him,” Frazier said.

Moore was one of the department’s first motorcycle officers when the program started in 2011. Kelley met Moore in 2005 and remembered working with him when they were both Sandown police officers. (His obituary appears on Page B6)

“He was great to work with and had an excellent sense of humor. There was no question in my mind that he was passionate about the job. It was an honor to work with him,” Kelley said, adding that Moore’s death “will leave a void we will never be able to fill.”

Kelley recalled how Moore was determined to address problems in the community even in cases where police weren’t able to bring criminal charges.

“He looked out for victims and residents of this community,” Kelley said.

Kelley described Moore as true family man.

“His family meant the world to him,” he said.

Condolences have poured in from local police departments, many of which are expected to participate in a law enforcement walk through scheduled for 3 to 4 p.m. Thursday at St. Anne Parish, 26 Emerson Ave. in Hampstead. The walk through will be followed by calling hours for the public from 4 to 8 p.m.

A funeral Mass will be held Friday at 10 a.m. at St. Anne Parish.