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Community steps up to restore statue honoring 2 fallen police officers after it was stolen

NEW KENSINGTON, Pa. — A rededication ceremony was held Sunday in Westmoreland County.

New Kensington officer Brian Shaw and Lower Burrell officer Derek Kotecki were both killed in the line of duty.

Back in April, part of the police statue that was dedicated to them on Center Avenue in New Kensington was stolen. It featured a police officer and his dog.

Someone tore down the officer and left only a few pieces of shoes behind.

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The community ordered a new one and gave it a fresh coat of paint. They wanted to dedicate it on the Fourth of July, but one of the organizers, Steve Pater, passed away before it could be dedicated.

His daughter was there today for the rededication. She said she knows her dad would be proud to see the statue back in its rightful place.

The mayor of New Kensington said everyone who made this happen should be proud.

“It shows the perseverance and the commitment that a community has when something that means so much to the community is destroyed,” said New Kensington Mayor Tom Guzzo.