Gates, N.Y.—Police and firefighters took some time away from work Friday to raise money for the family of a colleague who died in June. Sonny Chung was a popular police officer with the Gates department from 1996 until 2002, when he suffered severe brain injuries in car wreck while on duty.
“We thought we were going to lose him back then and he fought through it hard and came back to have this happen a second time is devastating,” said Lance Duffy, a Gates police officer and friend of Chung.
The second incident happened in June when Chung died after an SUV driver hopped a sidewalk, striking and killing him. Authorities said the driver blacked out due to a medical condition and was not charged.
“Losing Sonny, we want to take care of his kids so we're raising money for the college fund,” said Duffy.
Firefighters beat the police 23-13 and raised $2,700 that will be donated to Chung’s family to help pay for college for his two sons.
