Hundreds of people, including dozens of police officers in dress uniform, bid farewell to Belleville Police Chief Matt Eiskant on Monday at a funeral service where people praised his deep devotion to law enforcement, family, friends and the community.
Several speakers also noted that Eiskant, 49, was something of a comedian who kept his sense of humor until he died on Aug. 24 after a six-month battle with a rare form of cancer.
“Matt had a never ending supply of bad jokes,” said Capt. Rob Thomason, who spoke on behalf of the Belleville Police Department, where Eiskant served for 25 years, climbing the ladder from patrolman to detective, assistant chief to chief…