MANCHESTER, CT. (WFSB) -
The Manchester Police Department is helping its fellow officers in Newtown by selling T-shirts to raise money for those affected by the school shooting.
Manchester officer Ryan Shea said he knows what it's like for officers who have seen the unimaginable.
"Having to deal with situations like this is very hard and anything we can do to help them out in Newtown we are here to do that," he said.
On Dec. 14, Adam Lanza shot and killed his mother at their home, then went to Sandy Hook Elementary School and killed 26 children and adults. Before entering the school, he shot his mother four times in the head, while she slept.
Manchester police officers along with other officers around the state have been volunteering their time to give officers in Newtown a break. They've been directing traffic, guarding funeral processions and even patrolling around town.
"For anyone involved this has to be one of the most devastating things every been through, ever been a part of," Shea said.
Manchester police officers who didn't get to help in Newtown came up with the idea of a T-shirt as a way to give back.
The money raised from the T-shirts will be given to the Newtown Memorial Fund, which was set up "to provide a memorial to the victims of the Sandy Hook Elementary School tragedy, and to establish academic scholarships in the victims' names for classmates and generations of Newtown students to come," according to its website.
The police designed T-shirts with Sandy Hook Elementary School mascot, which is an eagle, crying.
"We took the angels wings and put the eagle inside with teddy bear," said Paul Bowler. "We think it says everything. It's strength. It shows the children's part."
More than 250 T-shirts have been sold and another 300 have been ordered. Officers told Eyewitness News that they are almost sold out.
"We can't stop selling them to people and we're hoping that we can donate as much as we can in the shortest amount of time as we can," Shea said.
The T-shirts are being sold at the following locations in Manchester starting Friday:
- Manchester Federal Credit Union
- Farrs Sporting Goods
- Crossfit Thin Blue Line
- Funny Bone Comedy Club
The T-shirts will be available through January and cost $10 apiece.
For more information on the Newtown Memorial Fund, click the following link.
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