The families of two fallen Nassau County police officers were given $5,000 checks each and reminded that they have extended family in blue to help get them through.
The spouses and children of officers Sean Ledwith and Patricia Espinosa, who both died in January, were honored Thursday during a presentation at David Lerner Associates’ headquarters in Syosset, where the company and the Greater Long Island Running Club donated money to their families through the Long Island Police Crisis Fund.
“It is a bittersweet day, we wish we didn’t have to be here today” said Oyster Bay Town Supervisor Joseph Saladino, who helped present the fund to the family.
“But the fact is that it’s an unfortunate reality, we have tragedies,” added Tommy Shevlin, President of the Nassau County Police Benevolent Association.
The annual event, hosted by and mainly funded by David Lerner Associates’ CEO Marty Walcoe, has helped raise and donate more than $500,000 for the families of fallen officers for over the past 35 years.
Ledwith’s wife Shannon, said the money’s would help alleviate some of the financial pressure that has risen since losing her husband.
Officer Ledwith, 45, who has three children, unexpectedly passed away in his sleep on Jan. 11.
Francisco Malaga, the husband of Officer Espinosa, also received a $5,000 check coming on the heels of a large-scale, massively successful local pizzeria fundraiser in his wife’s name that raised thousands for him and his two-year-old daughter.
Officer Espinosa was killed in January after a drunk driver ran a red light and plowed into her car at high speed while she was on her way to work.
Both spouses emotionally told The Post they are taking their grieving day-by-day and searching for the strength to carry on for their children.
“The PBA and these organizations have been amazing in supporting me and my family through such a tragic time,” Shannon told The Post.
“I don’t think we’d be getting through these days without them,” she added.
Francisco echoed the sentiment, and said he is grateful for the ongoing support he has received from the community and his wife’s brothers in blue.
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And the PBA, leadership within David Lerner Associates, and both county and town officials all remained adamant that they will continue to have their backs and support them.
“We’ll always have your six,” Saladino told the families.
“Those kids have a lot of aunts and uncles now,” he added.
Shevlin added that he is and the other members of his union are willing to do “anything to always remind a family that their loved ones are heroes.”
