A restaurant and bar in Lower Burrell has become the hub for planning and raising tens of thousands of dollars in honor of Officer Brian Shaw to help police, high school students and communities.

Shaw, of Lower Burrell, was a New Kensington police officer who was shot and killed after a traffic stop and foot chase in 2017. He was 25.

On Saturday, more than 1,000 patrons were expected to pass through the fourth annual Officer Brian Shaw Foundation Concert Series at Mogie’s Irish Pub.

The concert bill of six bands made for hours of entertainment to help support a good cause.

Local police chiefs stopped by, as did law officers from other departments in Western Pennsylvania, said Dave “Mogie” Magill, owner of the pub that hosts events benefiting the Shaw foundation.

Members of the Shaw family were on hand.

But you would not have recognized the police, as many wore black Shaw T-Shirts or ordinary street clothes.

Police were hardly the most visible presence: It was the more than 140 gifts baskets that filled an entire room. There were leather vests, a Z Grill, a JBL sound bar and more.

“This is it,” said Sharyn Jenniches, perusing the rows of gift baskets with Linda Dubik. Both women are from Lower Burrell.

“We’ve won baskets before,” Jenniches said. “The bands are great. We all knew Brian.”

Although a thunderstorm dampened the outdoor stage briefly, more people filed in around dinnertime, paying the event charge of $10.

The strumming of an acoustic guitar player on the patio drifted to the front of the restaurant, where new editions of Brian Shaw T-shirts and hats were sold.

Inside, Lower Burrell city officials helped with details behind the scenes.

There is a close group of people working together to stage Saturday’s event and other fundraisers, including the Back the Blue concert last month and the upcoming Officer Brian Shaw motorcycle run on Aug. 13.

“We’re all here for the same thing — to help the community, to recognize our heroes and support law enforcement,” said Ron Balla of New Kensington, a Shaw Foundation committee member and former constable.

Balla said he is passionate about supporting the police. His brother, Chad Balla, a police officer, died of cancer in 2003. He knew Shaw and Lower Burrell police Officer Derek Kotecki, who was shot and killed in an ambush in 2011. Shaw and Kotecki were Lower Burrell natives from families rooted in the community.

“We lost two officers in the line duty,” Balla said. “We don’t have a way to express ourselves.”

The events, fundraising and donations to those in need are a way to remember Shaw and Kotecki and their values in the form of events for the public.

“We remind them, and they bring their family,” he said.

Magill quickly rattles off the foundation concerts’ successes by raising $7,100 the first year, more than $13,000 the second year and more than $12,000 last year.

Bands play for free, local and other merchants donate for the gift baskets; then there are proceeds from the Shaw hats and T-shirts.

The proceeds pay for police dogs and educational scholarships for Burrell and New Kensington-Arnold seniors and help to local communities.

Balla credits Magill’s generosity in hosting the event at the bar/restaurant. Mogie then credits Amber Adda, a Shaw Foundation committee member for doing the legwork for the basket donations.

Jenniches and Dubik had fun deciding which basket raffles they would play.

But Dubik knew what got her there.

“For law enforcement, Brian’s job was so important and what happened to him,” she said. “He’ll never grow old to us.”

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