Local law enforcement officers killed in the line of duty remembered

Police Officer Brian Shaw was shot and killed Friday night in New Kensington.

Shaw, 25, was fatally wounded shot during a traffic stop.  Other officers drove him to Allegheny Valley Hospital where he died.

As the community reflects Shaw's life, Channel 11 is remembering the lives of other law enforcement officers killed in the line of duty.

Trooper Michael Stewart – July 14, 2017

• Trooper Michael P. Stewart, was killed in a crash while on patrol in Ligonier.  Stewart's southbound SUV hit the side of a garbage truck making a left turn out of a parking lot onto northbound Route 711.

Officer Scott Bashioum – Nov. 10, 2016

• Officer Scott Bashioum and Officer James Saieva were ambushed when they arrived at a home on Woodcrest Drive for a domestic situation. Bashioum, who was also a volunteer firefighter, did not survive.  The shooter, Michael Cwiklinski, and his wife, Dalia Elhefny Sabae, were found dead in a second-floor bedroom of the home.

Officer Lloyd Reed - Nov.  28, 2015

• Officer Lloyd Reed killed while responding to a domestic call at a residence on Ligonier Street in New Florence.  He was shot during an exchange of gunfire.  Authorities immediately instigated a manhunt in search of Ray Shetler, Jr. The manhunt lasted roughly six hours before Shetler was arrested.

Lt. Eric Eslary – May 5, 2015

• Lt. Eric Eslary was driving on Route 30 in his patrol SUV with his K-9, Blek, when he was hit head-on by Clair Fink who was driving the wrong way at the time of the crash. Fink pleaded guilty to the most serious charges: third-degree murder, homicide by vehicle under DUI and three other DUI-related charges. The seven remaining charges were dismissed as part of a plea bargain.

Officer Richard Champion - Dec. 14, 2014

• Officer Richard Champion, an Army reservist who had worked part-time as an officer in Perryopolis for eight months, died after his cruiser crashed into an SUV and caught fire on Route 51. Police said the SUV driver turned in front of Champion, who was trying to catch up to a suspected speeder.

Trooper Blake Coble – Oct. 4, 2012

• Trooper Blake Coble was killed when a driver allegedly ran a stop sign then collided with his cruiser in South Beaver Township. The driver was cited for careless driving. Coble was stationed with Troop D in Beaver where his wife was a dispatcher.

Officer John Dryer – Dec. 18, 2011

• Officer John David Dryer was shot and killed during a traffic stop on Interstate 70. Officer Robert Caldwell, who was backing up Dryer, was shot in the hand. Caldwell recovered from his injuries. Eli Franklin Myers, the man accused in the shooting, was shot dead during a gun battle with state police at his home on Logan Street in the village of Webster.

Officer Derek Kotecki - Oct. 12, 2011

• Officer Derek Kotecki, a Lower Burrell police officer was gunned down in a Dairy Queen parking lot by a man who had been wanted for an alleged shooting, police said.  His shooter, Charlie Post, died during the subsequent exchange of gunfire with police.

Officer. Michael Crawshaw – Dec. 6, 2009

• Penn Hills police officer Michael Crawshaw was shot and killed while responding to a shooting.  Ronald Robinson killed Danyal Morton in the bathroom over a $500 drug debt and as he fled sprayed Crawshaw's police car with shots from an AK-47 semi-automatic assault rifle, striking the officer in the head and left arm, killing him instantly.  A jury convicted Robinson, who is serving two consecutive life terms in prison.

Eric Kelley, Paul Sciullo, Stephen Mayhle – April 4, 2009

• Pittsburgh police officers Eric Kelley, Paul Sciullo, and Stephen Mayhle were killed while responding to a call in Stanton Heights.  The shooter, Richard Poplawski, was convicted and sentenced to death for the shooting.

FBI Agent Samuel Hicks – Nov. 19, 2008

• Agent Samuel Hicks, 33, a Westmoreland County native, was gunned down while serving a drug warrant at an Indiana Township home. Christina Korbe, 44, admitted to shooting Hicks as he and other agents arrived to arrest her husband at the couple's home. She is serving a 15-year, 10-month sentence.

Cpl. Joseph Pokorny - Dec.12, 2005 

• Cpl. Joseph Pokorny was shot and killed by his own gun during a traffic stop just off the Parkway West. An Allegheny County jury found Leslie Mollett guilty of first-degree murder.  He was sentenced to life without parole.

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