WIRK Raises Money For Fallen Officer

Officer Bruce St. Laurent

The staff at PALM BEACH BROADCASTING Country WIRK/ WEST PALM BEACH, FL stepped up to help the family of a fallen JUPITER, FL police officer over the weekend, and their efforts were mobilized within hours.

Police officer BRUCE ST. LAURENT was part of a motorcycle escort for President OBAMA’s visit to the area on SUNDAY (9/9). While on duty, ST. LAURENT’s motorcycle was struck by a pickup truck on the interstate. LAURENT was killed. 

Before the incident made the news, WIRK’s morning show team members JEFF ELLIOTT, BILL ADAMS, and TINY had received the information from a source while at home that evening. They immediately spoke with their PD, JOHN O’CONNELL to put a plan in action, to raise money for ST. LAURENT’s surviving wife and four children. By 6am the next morning (9/10), the WIRK staff began a live broadcast from the JUPITER, FL police department and collecting donations.

“We set up a tent outside the police department and let our listeners know through our FACEBOOK and texts, that we were doing this. Word of mouth spread, and I spoke to all three local news outlets who were filming from the police department that morning. People started showing up and giving. We averaged about $1000 per hour. At the end of our 13 hour live broadcast, we had accepted about $13,000 in donations, and people were still showing up to give after that,” WIRK PD JOHN O’CONNELL told ALL ACCESS.

A fund has been set up to assist the officer’s family. The U.S. SECRET SERVICE issued a statement on President OBAMA’s behalf, which extended condolences to the family. A fund has been set up in BRUCE ST. LAURENT’s name, details available here.

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