Officer Brian Shaw's Burrell football jersey retired at memorial ceremony
Burrell High School officials have added another layer to the legacy of the late Brian Shaw.
Shaw, a New Kensington police officer and a 2010 Burrell graduate, was killed after a traffic stop while on duty in New Kensington in November 2017.
He was shot when he pulled over an SUV along Leishman Avenue. Shaw was 25.
Administrators met with several of Shaw’s relatives at the 30-yard line Friday night between the first and second quarter break of a football game against Valley to retire the kicker’s No. 14 jersey and present the family with mini football helmets.
“Brian was a great student here,” Principal John Boylan said. “Not only a great athlete, but a better person. (He was) always smiling in the hallway (and) just a real delight to have.
“We’ve had a lot of dedications for him throughout the past several years, but this one is special. We just wanted to recognize his athletic contributions, but even more so as a student here at Burrell High School.”
The game was the 42nd meeting between the two schools, but the first with a new championship on the line.
Burrell developed the Officer Brian D. Shaw Battle of the Bypass Memorial Trophy, a traveling trophy awarded to the victorious school.
“It’s one of our big rivalry teams, and I know something that Brian would really cherish,” Boylan said. “Great family, great people, and we’re just excited we’re able to do this for the family.”
Shaw’s white home jersey was framed with his high school photo and another a photo of him in a patrol car.
The trophy and jersey were on display on the home-field sideline throughout the game.
Family members declined to comment.
“Officer Shaw was obviously a great member of our community, not only as a student, but also as a police officer in New Kensington,” Burrell athletic director Drake D’Angelo said. “While a police officer there, he was very much still active in youth sports and definitely somebody who was always around soccer or football or whatever it was.
“It was definitely a tragedy, his passing. We want to honor that legacy about how much he cared about our two communities by doing it here at this game (against) Valley, because Valley’s in New Kensington.”
The jersey will be mounted in the gymnasium lobby next to his soccer jersey and the basketball jersey of Officer Derek Kotecki, a Lower Burrell patrolman killed in the line of duty Oct. 12, 2011.
Kotecki, a 1986 Burrell graduate, was 22.
Other Shaw remembrances
Shaw’s No. 2 jersey for Burrell’s soccer team was retired in late September.
Family members, local police and soccer team alumni took part in that retirement ceremony at Buccaneer Stadium shortly before the start of a home game between the Buccaneers and Leechburg High School.
Shaw played on Burrell’s soccer team in 2006 and 2007.
Hundreds of motorcyclists turn out in August year after year for the annual benefit run in Shaw’s memory.
Event organizers said close to 700 motorcycles traveled through more than 20 Alle-Kiski Valley communities at this year’s run. About $35,000 was raised.
The money will pay for two annual, reimbursable scholarships to the Allegheny County Police Academy and will be added to funds for a perpetual endowment for future scholarships.
Michael DiVittorio is a TribLive reporter covering general news in Western Pennsylvania, with a penchant for festivals and food. He can be reached at mdivittorio@triblive.com.
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