Memorial motorcycle ride keeps memory of slain New Kensington police officer Brian Shaw alive, funds scholarship

Fran Aller still vividly remembers his dimples.

She was among those who’d see Brian Shaw come into the Sheetz in New Kensington during his brief time as a police officer in the city, before he was shot and killed during a traffic stop in November 2017.

“He was always smiling,” Aller said. “I could always see his cute little dimples.”

Aller was among volunteers who helped stage the seventh annual Officer Brian Shaw Memorial Scholarship Ride, which saw about 640 motorcycles make their way through nearly two dozen Alle-Kiski Valley communities on a 74-mile route Saturday, beginning and ending at the Pittsburgh Shrine Center in Harmar.

The ride — which raises about $40,000 each year — funds two $6,000 scholarships that are awarded each year to cadets from the Allegheny County Police Academy.

“We believe it’s the largest charity motorcycle ride in Western Pennsylvania,” said Eric Felack, communications director for the ride. “We’re putting two police officers on the street every year in honor of Brian.”

In addition to Shaw, Felack said they’d be honoring ride supporters Dave “Mogie” Magill and Terry Kuhns, who both died since last year’s ride. Magill was shot and killed outside his business, Mogie’s Irish Pub, in Lower Burrell in December. Kuhns, the police chief in Frazer, died in April.

Stacey Slagle, of Delmont, also works at Sheetz and remembers seeing Shaw at the New Kensington store. She ascended from taking care of coffee and overseeing raffle baskets to being the ride’s president this year.

The weather was muggy Saturday with threatening clouds. While Felack said a threat of rain and storms may have kept some riders from coming, it didn’t rain — and Slagle said it never has the day of the ride.

“That was probably the scariest part,” Slagle said. “The weather is the one thing you can’t control.”

While members of the Shaw family declined media interviews, Felack said Brian Shaw’s brother, Steffan Shaw, expressed their appreciation for the support of the bikers and volunteers to carry on Brian’s memory and his legacy of police work.

Riders came from near and far, some for the first time and others there many times before.

About 75 were expected from City Kings, a national motorcycle club of retired police officers, with more than a dozen from Oakland, Calif., according to Gabe Cervantez, a co-founder and retired 26-year Oakland officer.

“We’ve always honored our own,” Cervantez said. “The thin blue line runs long from California to Pennsylvania.”

Vince Gavin, a retired accountant from Ross, was taking part in the ride for the first time on his Harley-Davidson Street Glide. He didn’t arrive as part of a group, but became part of one in the ride.

“Better late than never, especially when you’re 73 years old,” he said. “As the Romans would say, you’ve got to seize the moment.”

Tim Anchors, of Murrysville, was among those participating on three wheels, driving a Polaris Slingshot with his younger brother, Bill, of Plum, as passenger. This year was the fourth time Tim Anchors took part in the ride.

“It’s just a good cause,” he said. “I enjoy all the camaraderie.”

Marissa Pastories watched from her Harmar home as the riders left the Pittsburgh Shrine Center. She then made her way to Lower Burrell with her friend, Sophie Andrews, and they watched from atop her Jeep as the riders traveled Leechburg Road from Lower Burrell, where Shaw lived, into New Kensington, where he had served.

Pastories said this was her third year watching the ride.

“If I had a bike I would do it,” she said. “It’s nice. They always have a nice turnout. It’s neat to see all the motorcycles.

“It gets the community together.”

Shaw was a police officer in Frazer for two years before joining New Kensington in 2017, five months before his death. It was while he was with Frazer that Kaye Meyers, of Lower Burrell, said Shaw had pulled over her daughter because a taillight on her Volkswagen was burned out.

Meyers said her daughter thought Shaw was cute.

When the motorcycles arrived, Meyers got out of her SUV and waved as they passed by on Leechburg Road.

“I just have a soft spot for cops. I have a lot of military in my family,” she said. “I just think it was something I should do.”

And while there’s sadness, “There’s happiness in it because of all of these bikers who gave up their time. They’re keeping his life alive,” she said.

“I think it’s beautiful.”