Philadelphia Police Show Support For Fallen Officer's Family
By Todd Quinones
PHILADELPHIA (CBS) - It was a suspected drunk driver going the wrong way on Interstate 95 who is accused of killing Philadelphia police officer Brian Lorenzo.
The dedicated highway patrolman was a husband and father of three children, including his youngest Dominic who turns five on Tuesday.
"The little guy keeps us all on our toes. Without him, we wouldn't be able to laugh sometimes," Linda Lorenzo said.
Brian's wife Linda, who was his high school sweetheart, was visited Thursday by dozens of Brian's fellow officers.
One by one they drove up to her home to deliver her what they hope will bring her some peace of mind.
It was a check for all the donations collected so far.
"We were able to just hand his wife almost $50,000. It doesn't replace Brian. It doesn't replace a husband, a father, a friend, a co-worker, but what it does is put your mind at ease for some of the day to day necessities," F.O.P. Lodge 5 President John McNesby said.
The 23-year veteran and co-captain of the Highway Patrol Motorcycle Drill Team was killed earlier this month as he was heading home at the end of his shift.
Forty-eight-year old John Leck Jr. of Levittown was arrested and charged in connection to Lorenzo's death.
"We're just taking it one day at a time. We have bad days, we have okay days," Linda said.
Linda wanted to thank the community for its support. She says without it, her and her family couldn't have gotten through past few weeks.
"I just hope he know how many people he affected. He affected a lot of people and he was a great father, a husband and police officer and he loved those things," she said.
The Fraternal Order of Police Lodge 5 has set up an account called the "Brian Lorenzo Memorial Fund" for Officer Lorenzo's family at the police and fire federal credit union. Donations for his family can be made at any branch.
