Pipe Band Challenge Winners Donate Prizes to Fund for Slain Cop's Family

NANUET, NY — The Port Authority Police Pipes & Drums hosted its first ever Pipe Band Challenge Saturday at the Pearl River Elks Club in Nanuet.

The challenge between police and fire bands from New York and New Jersey was attended by the NYPD, FDNY, Bergen County Police and Rockland County Police pipe bands.

The NYPD and FDNY bands took 1st and 2nd place respectively.

Given the tragic line-of-duty death of NYPD Sgt. Paul Tuozzolo the day before, the Port Authority pipe band made the decision to donate all proceeds from the evening to a fund that's been established for Sgt. Tuozzolo's family.

Tuozzolo, 41, was shot in the head, and a second officer, Sgt. Emmanuel Kwo was wounded on Nov. 4. They were responding to a 911 call about a man who had broken into his estranged wife's house and then fled. Manuel Rosales, 35, died in the shootout with police.

The generosity continued to flow at the pipe band event. The 50/50 raffle, won by PAPD PBA Trustee Mike Mollahan, and the 1st and 2nd place competition prizes from the NYPD and FDNY were returned to be added to the total donation.

All together, $3,675 will be donated to Tuozzolo's family, organizers said.

Port Authority Police Pipes & Drums and the organizers of the event thank all who attended to make this challenge a huge success and for everyone's extreme generosity.

There's a GoFundMe account set up to which the public can donate funds. Click here to support Slain NYPD Sergeant Paul Tuozzolo by Sergeants Benevolent Association.