ALEXANDRIA, Va. – Community members and friends of Alexandria Officer Peter Laboy, shot in the head two weeks ago, raised more than $75,000 at a weekend fundraiser for his family.
People lined up out the door at a restaurant for a fundraiser and auction for Officer Laboy.
“The business community, the general community at large – they’ve just been amazing,” said Alexandria Police Capt. Shahram Fard. “We’ve gotten thousands of dollars of donations, retailers have donated things from their stores.”
Laboy was shot in late February while making a routine traffic stop in late February. His family says he’s getting better every day.
The Alexandria Police Association and the restaurant Virtue Feed and Grain jointly hosted the fundraiser at the popular Old Town Alexandria restaurant.
There was a mandatory minimum $10 donation at the door, which included food. There were also silent and live auctions for restaurant gift certificates, hockey sticks and jerseys signed by Washington Capitals players and other sports memorabilia.
Kurt Dove made the trip from Columbus, Ohio to be at the fundraiser. He now serves as a federal police officer there, but Laboy was his first field training officer in Alexandria.
“He’s my friend, he’s my brother,” Dove said. “He’d be here for me, so I’m definitely here for him.”
“He was a great officer, a great father, a great friend,” he added. “Everybody knows that. That’s why they’re here.”
A fundraising event held Saturday at the Port City Brewing company raised $1,500. Organizers say another fundraiser is planned for April.
Donations for the Officer Peter Laboy fund should be dropped off at the Alexandria Police Department, 3600 Wheeler Avenue, Alexandria, Va. 22304.
Donations can also be sent through the mail:
The Alexandria Police Association c/o Peter Laboy P.O. Box 1228 Alexandria, Va. 22313
WTOP’s Andrew Mollenbeck contributed to this report. Follow @WTOP on Twitter.
