PHOTO: Haverhill Police Pay Tribute to Fallen Officer Shinners at Unity Tour Fundraiser

Haverhill Police Officers Jason Pearl, Nicole Donnelly, Sgt. Nick Brown and Officer Chris Dondero attended the Aug. 4, 2019 Lowell Spinners game on behalf of the family of Master Officer Joseph Shinners. (Courtesy photograph)

Members of the Haverhill Police Department’s Unity Tour team headed to Lowell last week for a fundraiser at the Lowell Spinners baseball game honoring one of their own: Fallen Master Officer Joseph Shinners.

As locals remember, Shinners is the brother of Haverhill Police Det. Michael Shinners and was the first officer killed in the line of duty in 2019. A three-year veteran of the Provo, Utah police force, Joseph Shinners died trying to apprehend a fugitive suspect during a shootout in Orem, Utah, his department said. He was able to return fire and strike the suspect at least once during the altercation south of Salt Lake City.

As a way to remember their fallen brother in blue, Haverhill’s Sgt. Nick Brown and Officers Chris Dondero, Nicole Donnelly and Jason Pearl attended the Aug. 4 game along with members of the Shinners family, Pearl told WHAV.

“It’s the least we can do,” Pearl said during a break from the recent Haverhill Police National Night Out event.

The late officer’s niece, Monica, threw out the game’s first pitch, Pearl said.

Raising $1,240 at the game that will go toward next May’s 300-mile Unity Tour that travels from New Jersey to Washington, D.C., the Haverhill group plans to dedicate their 2020 ride to Shinners.

The officers—including Sgt. Nick Brown—will all also be there at the end of the Unity Tour to support the Shinners family at the annual candlelight vigil that caps off the ride. The Haverhill contingent will then be able to see Master Officer Shinners’ name on the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial.

As the group continues to fundraise, donations are being accepted at the Bailey Boulevard police station, with checks payable to Nick Brown with Police Unity Tour in the memo line.

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