Lower Burrell's Back the Blue fundraiser to feature procession of emergency vehicles, live entertainment

An event featuring live entertainment and a procession of emergency vehicles is being held in Lower Burrell this weekend to benefit three area police departments and a foundation supporting injured first responders.

The second annual Back the Blue fundraiser will get underway at 12:30 p.m. Saturday with a motorcycle and emergency vehicle ride along Leechburg Road from Tarentum Bridge Road to Wildlife Lodge Road.

The opening ceremony will be at 1 p.m. at Mogie’s Irish Pub and Magill’s Grill, followed by live entertainment until 8 p.m. Admission is $10. A 50-50 raffle, T-shirts and more will be offered.

The event benefits police departments from Arnold, New Kensington and Lower Burrell, as well as the Tunnel to Towers Foundation.

“We are passionate about supporting our law enforcement officers,” said Ron Balla of New Kensington, who chairs the Back the Blue committee with Dave Magill, the owner of Mogie’s.

“Our community suffered great losses when police Officers Brian Shaw and Derek Kotecki were killed over the last decade. We all are sister cities,” Balla said, referring to Arnold, New Kensington and Lower Burrell.

Shaw, 25, was working as a New Kensington police officer on Nov. 17, 2017, when he was shot and killed during a traffic stop in New Kensington. Kotecki, 40, was a Lower Burrell patrolman and K-9 officer who was ambushed and murdered by a fugitive on Oct. 12, 2011.

The event’s fundraising committee includes Shaw’s parents, Stephan and Lisa Shaw, and representatives from the Kotecki scholarship fund.

Last year’s Back the Blue event raised about $11,000, with $3,000 going to each of the three departments and $2,000 to the Tunnel to Towers Foundation, Balla said.

The band lineup includes John Melnick, TKO, Mad Alice, MoJo — The Band, Heidi and The Hellcats, and Big House Pete. Maria Emili will sing the National Anthem.

Schedule details can be found on the Back the Blue Facebook page.