Children of Suffolk officer killed in crash receive grant
Bayport Beach Park dedicated to Suffolk County Police Officer, Glen Ciano, a Bayport resident who was killed by an alleged drunken driver when responding to a call. After the ceremony, Officer Ciano's wife, Sue (right) shares a moment with her children, Samantha and Dan. (October 1, 2009) Credit: Kathy Kmonicek/Kathy Kmonicek
A charity has donated $40,000 toward college education costs for the children of a Suffolk police officer who died while on duty when an alleged drunken driver's car collided with his cruiser last winter.
The Silver Shield Foundation on Tuesday announced the grants to 22-year veteran Officer Glen Ciano's college-age children, Samantha and Dan.
"Providing these educational funds is a small way of showing that Officer Ciano's dedication, many years of service and sacrifice will never be forgotten," the foundation's president, Jim Fuchs, said in a statement.
Ciano, 45, assigned to the Second Precinct in Huntington, was killed in Commack in February when an alleged drunken driver rammed Ciano's cruiser. At the time, he was on a call to assist another officer at a traffic stop.
Jose Borbon, 23, pleaded not guilty to manslaughter charges. Police say he was drunk and on his cell phone at the time of the collision.
The Silver Shield Foundation has pledged $20,000 to each of Ciano's children for tuition, tutoring and other education-related costs.
The foundation was established in 1982 by New York Yankees owner George Steinbrenner to help pay educational costs for the children of police officers and firefighters killed in the line of duty. It also offers counseling and other support services to these families.
Susan Ciano said she and her children were grateful for the Silver Shield Foundation's support. In the foundation's Monday news release, she said, "With the Silver Shield Foundation and others honoring Glen for the sacrifice he made, we will always know that his memory will live forever."
Borbon, who remains in jail and has not posted $1 million bond, is due back in court for a hearing Nov. 23.
