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Community supports family of slain Fla. officer
Related news: Breaking news: Fla. officer, suspect killed, Officer Down: Officer Andrew Widman
By Leslie Williams
The Naples Daily News
FORT MYERS, Fla. — After losing one of their own, they just couldn't sit back and wait for others to help.
Law enforcement agencies across Lee County have united to support the family of one of their own, gunned down early Friday.
Fort Myers Police Officer Andrew Widman, 30, leaves behind a wife and three small children.
The plan hatched Saturday by members of Lee County's police, fire and emergency departments reaches beyond the two memorial funds set up for Widman's family. Members of a dozen law enforcement agencies spent Sunday and plan to spend the next two days taking donations at Lee County Wal-Marts and major intersections, with the goal of raising $100,000.
Funds collected will be placed in the memorial account set up for Widman's family at Fifth Third Bank, Cape Coral Police Detective Robert Wardrop said.
"I'm gonna get with the bank tomorrow and let them know we're gonna have a lot of change and a lot of small bills," Wardrop said Sunday.
At the Wal-Mart at Colonial Boulevard and Six Mile Cypress Drive, every brand of citizen had been placing money in the bucket on Sunday, from a man with a stack of 100 $1 bills to a 2-year-old prompted by her mother to drop in a bag full of coins. But officials aren't collecting spare change alone.
"One lady went to an ATM machine in Wal-Mart and took $500 out of the ATM and dropped it right in the bucket and walked away," Wardrop said. "I can't describe the feeling from the community. It's such immense support."
He said scores of other people had contributed $100 each, and estimated that in the first four hours, $15,000 had been collected toward the goal.
If you'd like to contribute directly to one of two memorial funds:
* The Fort Myers Police Department set up the Andrew Widman Memorial Fund at Fifth Third Bank.
* The law firm of Goldstein, Buckley, Cechman, Rice Purtz set up the Andrew Widman Family Fund at Preferred Community Bank. Donations can be sent to the firm or the bank.
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Copyright 2008 The Naples Daily News
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