'An awesome tribute': Late New Kensington man's damaged memorial to police replaced

Dozens of people traversed a New Kensington hillside on Sunday to remember not just fallen police officers but also a local man who dedicated much of his time to honor them.

Steve Pater of New Kensington died July 1 while placing flags for the Fourth of July on his adopted hillside in the city’s Mount Vernon neighborhood.

About two years ago, the Paters put up a memorial honoring police officers near their Mount Vernon home. It sits on Center Avenue going up the hill from Stevenson Boulevard.

But earlier this year, someone vandalized the memorial, which includes a concrete statue of a police officer with a dog. Someone stole the police officer, leaving only pieces of his shoes.

The Paters ordered a replacement statue the same day and received it shortly thereafter.

Donna Pater painted the policeman herself. The original was never found.

A rededication was planned for July 4 but was postponed after Steve died. Steve had been setting up the flags a short distance away from where the memorial is located.

Family friend Randy Wagner said no words can describe what the rededication means to Steve.

“This is his dream,” Wagner said.

Wagner said Steve was furious to discover the memorial had been vandalized. Steve had been on his way to work early one morning when he noticed, Wagner said.

“He comes flying back in the house yelling the statue was gone,” Wagner said.

The Paters paid for the memorial with their own money. The Mount Vernon Residents Association has offered to pay them back, but they declined because it’s their contribution to the community, Donna Pater said.

“He took a lot of pride in what he did down here,” Donna Pater said of her husband.

The memorial is dedicated to all police officers, but former city police Officer Brian Shaw, who was killed in the line of duty in November 2017, was the main reason behind it. A frame with photos of Shaw and Derek Kotecki, a former Lower Burrell patrolman who also was killed in the line of duty, sat at the memorial’s base on Sunday.

“When Brian Shaw got shot, it triggered something in Steve that we’ve never seen,” Wagner said. “He went on a mission to get this statue.”

Pauline Campbell, the Paters’ daughter, said she is proud of what her parents have done.

She said it’s unfortunate her dad wasn’t here for the rededication, but he probably saw it in some way.

“I don’t think there’s enough support for our local law enforcement,” Campbell said. “I’d love to see more support for them and more funding.”

With donations from the community, the Paters were able to expand the memorial to include flower beds, lights, flags and a wooden backdrop.

Wagner said he and Donna Pater will be guarding the memorial every night until a surveillance camera is installed.

“Once that is done, hopefully we can relax a little bit,” said Wagner, who helps the Paters keep the hill clean.

New Kensington Mayor Tom Guzzo and police Chief Bob Deringer are grateful for what the Paters and Wagner have done for the community.

“I think … what somebody who vandalizes doesn’t understand, is that our perseverance, our commitment and our goodness, will always, always be stronger than their smallness,” Guzzo said.

Deringer said Steve Pater worked hard to keep the hillside clean and decorated for the holidays. The memorial will go on to be part of his legacy, the chief said.

“I think it’s an awesome tribute,” Deringer said.