Local Group Honoring Rocco As 1-Year Anniversary Of Tragic Death Nears

PITTSBURGH (KDKA) - This week marks one year since Pittsburgh Police K-9 Rocco died from injuries sustained in the line of duty.

A local group is remembering the tragic anniversary and there's a way you can get involved as well.

Many people in Pittsburgh remember the scene police carrying the body of Rocco.

The German shepherd died on Jan. 30, 2014, just days after being stabbed during a police incident in Lawrenceville.

"It still seems like yesterday. I mean, I still picture him in our house like he was there and he'll always be with us. We're never ever going to forget him," Jaime Lerza said.

Rocco's passing hit the Lerza family especially hard.

Jaime's husband and Pittsburgh Police officer, Phil, was Rocco's handler.

"People don't realize how much, that he lived with us, he was part of us and it's tough, it's tough," Lerza said.

While the Lerzas miss Rocco each and every day, they want to turn the tragedy into something good.

The Black n' Gold Girls are helping with that.

Last year, the group sold more than 3,000 T-shirts, which raised just over $47,500 for the Rocco Fund.

"It was such a tragic time and it hit us all in very different, but very deep and meaningful ways," Cassandra Buncie said.

Beginning today, they're selling new items with a new design.

Click here to visit their website

"We are selling T-shirts, children's T-shirts, which are new this year. We have hoodies available as well and baseball caps and then, we'll also have some pet products available," Buncie said.

Officers have asked that the money raised this year go to the Law Enforcement Memorial Fund so that a K-9 officer statue can be added to the memorial on the North Side.

"If you donated last year, or if you missed the chance to donate last year, this is another opportunity to fulfill the wishes of officers in our community," Buncie said.

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