Vigil marks first anniversary of police officer’s death
Community members attended a candlelight vigil held for fallen Canonsburg police officer Scott Bashioum.
Karen Mansfield/Observer-Reporter
Canonsburg Police Chief Alex Coghill, flanked by Boy Scouts from Troop 1305, remembers police officer Scott Bashioum at a vigil held Friday night in front of the Canonsburg Borough Building on the first anniversary of Bashioum’s death.
A blue beam of light streamed across the sky throughout the candlelight vigil held in honor of slain Canonsburg police officer Scott Bashioum.
CANONSBURG – Canonsburg marked the first anniversary of the death of police officer Scott L. Bashioum with a candlelight vigil in front of the Canonsburg Borough Building Friday night.
Community members gathered somberly at the vigil to honor Bashioum, 52, a seven-year veteran of the Canonsburg Police Department who was killed while responding to a domestic violence call in the early morning hours of Nov. 10, 2016.
The gunman shot and killed his wife, Dalia Sabae and her unborn child, and ambushed Bashioum and Officer James Saieva when they responded to a call at a house at 120 Woodcrest Drive at about 3:15 a.m. Saieva was wounded.
The shooter, James Cwiklinski, killed himself.
Canonsburg police Chief Alex Coghill said the shooting scarred the community and the police department, but “has made us tougher and stronger.”
“Though we respond to many different types of calls in the police department and see many horrific scenes of violence, the night of Nov. 10 brought home the realization to us all that no person, place or community is shielded from these events,” said Coghill. “His death brought a new awareness to domestic violence in Washington County. Scott was the kind of guy that anyone could talk to. He treated everyone as his equal.”
The vigil concluded an emotional day, which began with a ceremony in which the Central Avenue Bridge was renamed in honor of Bashioum.
Coghill said the turnout at the bridge dedication and the vigil was “an acknowledgment of the amazing person (Scott) is.”
Said Canonsburg Mayor David Rhome, “Words cannot express the loss we all feel. Yet, there is admiration for the courage Scott had as he did his duty as police officer, and in doing so gave the ultimate sacrifice.”
The Rev. Steven Parkhill of South Canonsburg Church called the murders a “senseless, needless act.”
He recalled Bashioum as a husband, father, son, brother, police officer and firefighter, a man who “stood tall in this community.”
“Heroic acts are not calculated, but they’re spontaneous, birthed out of necessity. And that’s what happened that day,” said Parkhill. Scott…was a hero who was willing to step up, not even thinking about the cost.”
He lauded the bravery of police officers who risk their lives “every time they go on duty,” and encouraged the community to appreciate them, support them and pray for them.
Throughout the vigil, a blue beam of light streamed across the sky in honor of Bashioum.
The vigil began with a procession of Boy Scouts from Troop 1305 carrying the U.S. flag, led by a bagpipes player, Jim Agnew of Pleasant Hills Police Department. It concluded with Canonsburg resident Carrie Cessna leading the crowd in “God Bless America.”
Canonsburg Councilman and former police chief R.T. Bell, who hired Bashioum, said the fallen officer was willing to help anyone in need.
“Scotty was a good guy. I hired him; he became a friend,” said Bell. “I hated to lose him. You could find nobody better.”