Burrell High retires Officer Brian Shaw’s soccer number; soon to retire his football number

The late Officer Brian Shaw’s No. 2 jersey for Burrell’s soccer team has been retired.

Burrell School District officials retired Shaw’s number just before the start of a home game Wednesday between the Buccaneers and Leechburg High School.

Shaw, a New Kensington police officer and a 2010 Burrell graduate, was killed after a traffic stop while on duty in New Kensington in 2017.

“Brian was a huge part of Burrell and soccer was his passion,” said Marci Ireland of Lower Burrell, president of the Burrell Bucs Boys Soccer Boosters.

Shaw played on Burrell’s soccer team in 2006 and 2007. He also played football and participated in track and field, said John Boylan, Burrell High School principal.

Over the past couple of years, Ireland and others learned more about Shaw’s love of soccer.

Burrell’s soccer team offered him an assistant coach’s position, but he turned it down when he started to work as a full-time police officer for New Kensington in 2017, Ireland said. However, he continued to help coach the team for summer scrimmages that year, Ireland said.

Courtesy of Steven Matto

The Burrell High School boys soccer team retired the jersey of Brian Shaw on Tuesday.

The ceremony was planned Wednesday in part because it was Burrell’s senior night, Ireland said. Some members of the graduating class were coached by Shaw, she said. Soccer team alumni who knew Shaw also attended.

“For part of the presentation, every member of the soccer team hugged the members of the Shaw family,” Ireland said.

Former New Kensington Chief Jim Klein and current police Chief Bob Deringer were among the law enforcement officials who attended the ceremony.

Also on hand was Deuce, a police dog that was paid for by a grant from the Officer Brian Shaw Foundation.

Deuce was Shaw’s nickname — which was derived from his soccer jersey number.

Courtesy of Drake D’Angelo

Officer Brian Shaw played soccer for Burrell when he was in high school. His No. 2 jersey has been retired.

The Shaw family was humbled by the ceremony, said Chris O’Leath, who spoke on behalf of the family. Shaw’s parents, Stephan and Lisa Shaw, his brother, Steffan, and other family members attended.

“The family wants to thank Burrell’s soccer team, the school district and the boosters for honoring Brian with such a special, memorable gesture,” O’Leath said.

More honors coming

There are more honors for Shaw on the way at Burrell.

The football team will retire his jersey No. 14 during the Burrell vs. Valley High School game on Friday, Oct. 29, said Drake D’Angelo, Burrell’s athletic director.

During that game, Burrell officials will unveil the Officer Brian D. Shaw Memorial Battle of the Bypass Trophy. The traveling trophy will reside with the winning team after the annual rivals’ match-up, he said. D’Angelo designed the trophy.

Shaw amassed nine letters in three sports.

He was a three-time MVP in track and field, a state qualifier in the 200-meter dash and the 1,600-meter relay, an all-section selection in soccer and an all-conference pick as both a placekicker and punter in football — a sport he had never played before high school.