Evans City Police receive memorial bench
EVANS CITY — Community leaders and residents gathered Saturday to dedicate a bench on Main Street to law enforcement officers.
The bench sits at the corner of East Main Street and Center Alley and was recognized with the help of American Legion Riders of Zelienople Post 474, the Evans City Lions Club and the Evans City mayor and police chief.
Mayor Dean Zinkhann said when they chose a date for the dedication, it happened to fall on the last day of National Police Week.
“This is to show the appreciation of all the police and all the work they’ve done,” he said.
Adding the bench among memorials for first responders was the idea of American Legion Riders Darrell Bittner and Mark O’Donnell.
“We were sitting around the fire one night, we saw the fire department and vets had one and decided we need one for the police,” O’Donnell said.
Pat Boylan, of Boylan Funeral Home, donated the bench, and the Lions Club received a donation to have the bench engraved for the Evans City-Seven Fields Regional Police Department.
Mark Kline, a member of the Lions Club, said the club members were happy to collaborate on the project.
“As a club, we’re all about serving the community, and that’s the same thing the police department does,” he said.
During the dedication, Zinkhann and Butler County Commissioner Kevin Boozel recognized various entities that made the day possible and those in attendance.
“I thank you for coming out to support the first responders,” Boozel said. “I know when you’re called to duty, what that means. The dedication and what you do is phenomenal.”
Police Chief Joseph McCombs was grateful for the recognition and said it was fitting for the day.
“It’s so humbling to see. Our community does a great job of honoring veterans and first responders,” he said. “We’re really humbled to accept this police memorial on Police Week for our police officers.”
