Feb 3, 2017 3 min read

Sgt. Donald Cross had the day off, but he and his daughter were both in uniform at lunchtime at St. Patrick School in Canonsburg.

“This is probably the only time she’ll eat her whole entire lunch is when I’m here,” Cross joked, sitting at a table with Leia, 7, who wore her own police-style hat in the spirit of the school’s “Hero Day.”

Cross was one of about 10 Canonsburg police officers and firefighters who visited the school for lunch as part of the school’s activities for national Catholic School Week.

“We want (students) to know there are men and women in the community who live with us, and they do an important job for us,” said second-grade teacher Carrie Gallagher.

While firefighters came to give presentations to students and police walk through the school at least daily, she said school officials wanted to show appreciation for borough police after one of the department’s members was fatally shot less than three months ago. Officer Scott Bashioum, 52, was killed during an ambush as he and Officer James Saieva responded to an early-morning domestic disturbance call Nov. 10. The incident also claimed the life of Dalia Sabae, 28, and her unborn child. The gunmen, Sabae’s estranged husband, killed himself. Saieva, who was wounded, remains on administrative leave.

“The police have been in our minds and hearts ever since that happened,” Gallagher said. “We wanted to let these men and women know they’re still in our hearts and they’re important to us.”

For Cross – who was among the first officers responding to the call and helped remove Saieva from the line of fire – the school’s gesture is typical of the way the town has supported the department.

“Overall, the whole community, Canonsburg’s been really good to our police department after what happened,” he said.

Gallagher also said she wanted students to build their comfort level with firefighters and law enforcement at a young age.

Police Chief Al Coghill agreed.

“Our officers walk the school anyway. Anytime you get a chance to interact with young kids, it serves to build a relationship later,” he said.

School officials also presented the attendees with “survival kits” – gift bags that mixed the serious with the whimsical. The message on the “fireman’s survival kit,” for example, told recipients it contained gum, “so that your unit will stick together,” a card with the St. Florian Prayer and cinnamon candy, “to let everyone know how ‘hot’ you really are.”

Mayor and Assistant Fire Chief David Rhome said the kindergartners he ate with “were talking about (calling) 911” and “what they were learning in school.”

“It’s nice to see that both the police and firefighters are making an impact (with) the teachings that we do in the school and the community,” he said.

Eighth-grader Ireland Killen, 13, of Peters Township, was eager to spend time with the visitors when she and other older students arrived for the second lunch period.

“I just want them to know that I appreciate what they’re doing and I prayed for them every day,” she said.