Jan 17, 2017 3 min read

CANONSBURG – When Canonsburg police answer a high-risk call, they will be better protected thanks to the donation of six tactical, ballistic vests given to the department by a borough businessman and several anonymous donors.

The idea to purchase the vests for the department came from Emily Cancilla, whose husband, Anthony Cancilla, is a patrolman.

“It definitely stemmed from what happened to Scott (Bashioum),” she said of the Canonsburg officer who was killed in the line of duty Nov. 10 when he was shot with a bullet fired from a high-powered weapon. Officer James Saieva was wounded when he and Bashioum were ambushed while responding to a domestic dispute call on Woodcrest Drive. The shooter, Michael Cwiklinski, killed himself after killing his estranged wife, Dalia Sabae, who was pregnant.

“When you marry a police officer, you marry into the police family,” Cancilla added. “And I wanted to make sure the officers were taken care of. I feel comfortable knowing my husband has a better chance of coming home safe.”

She broached the idea to her boss, Robert Simonin of Simonin Agency on West Pike Street, as well as some family members. Simonin was on board with purchasing the vests, which each cost about $400.

“I don’t want the others still on the job to feel forgotten,” Simonin said Monday. “I would encourage others to help their own local police departments.”

Simonin said purchasing the vests is just a small token of appreciation for the good job done by the officers in the Canonsburg Police Department.

“Life still goes on, in spite of what happened,” Simonin said. “The officers still have to get in their car and go out on patrol so hopefully we provide many of the right tools.”

“These guys are dads, husbands, coaches,” he added. “We want to see them go home at the end of the day.”

While all of the patrol officers wore protective vests, police Chief Al Coghill said those are not designed to stop rounds fired from a high-powered weapon like the one that killed Bashioum.

“The vests will be carried in the patrol cars,” Coghill said. “The vests can be put on by the officer over his uniform in a matter of seconds if they are responding to a critical incident like a domestic or the standoff that happened on Smith Street in November.”

Coghill said the outpouring of support from the community has been phenomenal. Last month, Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 191 in Canonsburg presented a check for $37,000 to cover the cost to replace a cruiser damaged in the Nov. 10 shooting.

A fundraiser to benefit Bashioum’s family will be held Saturday at Hilton Garden Inn at Southpointe. Medals of honor will be presented to Bashioum and Saieva as well as to Canonsburg police Sgt. Don Cross, Peters Township Sgt. Matt Collins and Cecil Township Sgt. John Holt. The sergeants assisted the injured officers. Tickets are still available at the Canonsburg police department, 68 E. Pike St. For more information, call 724-745-8020, ext. 518.