Crime & Safety
Applebee’s Helps Raise Funds for Slain Officer’s Family
Want to help a fallen officer's family but don't know how? Here's an easy way to do so.
If you stop by the on Monday in Richland Township, you can contribute to a great cause and enjoy a delicious meal.
Twenty Applebee’s restaurants in the greater Pittsburgh region have teamed with the Western Pennsylvania Police Benevolent Foundation and the Officer Derek Kotecki Benefit Committee to raise funds for the Officer Derek Kotecki Memorial Fund.
The fund benefits the family of Lower Burrell Police Officer Derek Kotecki, who was , when he and his K-9 partner, Odin, were pursuing murder suspect and fugitive Charlie Post.
Find out what's happening in Pine-Richlandwith free, real-time updates from Patch.
The 18-year veteran left behind a wife and two young sons, as well as many friends and colleagues.
The WPPBF is a newly formed nonprofit organization dedicated to the support of officers, and officer families, in need, regardless of employment status or union affiliation. It was , after .
Find out what's happening in Pine-Richlandwith free, real-time updates from Patch.
Through the foundation's partnership with the Pittsburgh Penguins Foundation, volunteer officers collected more than $22,000 in donations during a Penguins home game Oct. 15 at CONSOL Energy Center.
It collected an additional $10,000 through other fundraising efforts, including two days of collections on Route 51.
“Most people want to help fallen officers, and their families but don’t know how to do so,” said Bethel Park Police Officer and WPPBF Secretary Andrew Volchko. “We want to give them an easier way to do it.”
It doesn’t get much easier or more delicious than what the WPPBF has cooked up this time.
Just print out the flyer on this page and give it to a server between 11 a.m. and midnight on Monday at a participating Applebee’s location, then sit back and enjoy your meal. Fifteen percent of the price of your food order will be donated to the Officer Derek Kotecki Memorial Fund.
If you can’t make it out to an Applebee’s on Monday but would still like to help, donations to the Officer Derek Kotecki Memorial Fund can be sent to S&T Bank, 4251 Old William Penn Highway, Murrysville, PA 15668. Make checks payable to the Officer Derek Kotecki Memorial Fund.
Other participating Applebee’s locations: Scott Township, West Mifflin, Washington (Trinity Point), Robinson, Pittsburgh Mills, Peters Township, Chippewa, Clarion, Edgewood, Penn Center, North Hills (McKnight Road), Cranberry, Mt. Pleasant, Monaca, Butler, Johnstown, Altoona, State College and Uniontown.
* You must print out the flyer and present it to your server to have 15 percent of your food order donated to the fund. *