Fundraiser honors fallen Providence officer

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Johnston’s finest recently gathered to support the group Concerns of Police Survivors, or COPS, in honor of a fallen member of the local law enforcement community.

On Sunday inside the Santa Maria Di Prata Society on Walnut Grove Avenue in Cranston, International Brotherhood of Police Officers Local 307 accomplished several important goals during what Sgt. Joseph Scichilone called a “fantastic” fundraiser.

More than 200 people attended a five-course venison dinner that included a presentation of $500 to COPS.

Through the event, the IBPO chapter honored a fallen brother – the late Providence Police Sgt. Steven M. Shaw, who was killed in the line of duty on Feb. 3, 1994, while searching for a robbery suspect. He was 27 years old.

Since Shaw’s passing, his father, Robert Shaw, has been actively involved in the New England Chapter of COPS. With his wife, Maria, by his side, he graciously accepted Local 307’s second annual donation.

Proceeds from Sunday’s fundraiser – which was coordinated by Scichilone, Johnston Detective Brian Loffredi and officers Arthur Petteruti and Mario Mennella – will also be used to help support youth sports in the Johnston community.

Local 307 has been supportive of the town’s youth for several years. Loffredi and other personnel donated a wrestling mat to Nicholas A. Ferri Middle School, and the union ha supported other important youth sports programs in Johnston.

The event was also bolstered by Jim’s Firearm Repair Service, located at 118 Greenville Ave. in Johnston, as owner Jim Connors sponsored Sunday’s event. He made a monetary donation and also provided a shotgun for the event’s raffle.

Dean Capuano, host of “Swarovski Optik Quests,” which is aired on the Outdoor Channel, donated a Swarovski Optik rifle scope, and approximately 30 gift baskets were prepared by Maria Manfredo of Maria’s House of Baskets in Johnston.

Connors received a plaque of appreciation from members of Local 307, as did Ernest and Kevin Motta of Creative Modeling and Design and Ralph DeFusco.

Numerous members of the Johnston department and representatives of the Providence, Cranston, Cumberland and Scituate police departments, as well as the Johnston and Cranston fire departments, were on hand for the event.

“We were happy with the results,” Scichilone said. “We enjoy holding these fundraisers throughout the year.”

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