Funeral for nation's oldest active fire police officer in Bensalem

BENSALEM, Pa. (WPVI) -- Memorial services were held Thursday in Bensalem for a man who had been the oldest active fire police officer in the United States.

Firefighters from throughout the area paid tribute to John Doster who died last week at the age of 95.

Doster served the Edgely Fire Company in Levittown.

Action News spoke with Doster back in 2008.

"People gotta learn how to get back to learning how to help people," he said. "Not fighting with them and this and that and the other thing - help 'em if they need it."

Most recently Doster served as a fire police officer.

Fire police are volunteer fire company members who receive sworn police powers.

They usually are responsible for securing firefighting equipment, and performing traffic and crowd control at fire scenes.

Edgely Fire Co. Chief Carl Pierce says Doster last worked during a fire in Hulmeville in February and died April 2.

He had volunteered with the fire company for more than 80 years.