PHOTO/Courtesy of Alyson Crean

Key West police Sergeant Eric Biskup, holding up the green bottle, is seen here with friends, co-workers and supporters who turned out July 26 for a fundraiser. The event at Rick’s raised $10,000 for Biskup, who is battling pancreatic cancer.

Love Fund helping Biskup, other officers

SEAN KINNEY

KONK LIFE STAFF WRITER

The Key West community is rallying around local police Sgt. Eric Biskup in an ongoing effort to provide assistance as he fights pancreatic cancer.

Most recently, a July 26 fundraiser at Rick’s on Duval Street raised an impressive $10,000 for the Key West Police Department’s Love Fund.

“It was an awesome turnout,” police department spokesperson Alyson Crean said. “It was a great community event.”

Biskup has taken time off from his job, Crean said.

“He’s not working now,” she told KONK Life. “He’s having a second round of chemotherapy.”

He was initially hired by the department in 1993 and was promoted to his current rank in 2012.

The fund was set up in 2006 to help police and their families dealing with things like personal tragedy or unexpected illness.

At that time, then-Detective John Piskator died from a heart attack during training. To help his family, the KWPD set-up the Love Fund based on a similar model in Miami-Dade County.

Another beneficiary is K-9 Officer Tommy Anglin, who was diagnosed with cancer. A benefit at Boondocks on Ramrod Key raised nearly $20,000.

Aside from events like the one for Biskup, the annual Police Officers Ball is the main fundraiser.

Crean said that event has actually been renamed the Love Fund Ball to avoid any impression that it’s just for police officers and their families.

The 2014 Love Fund Ball is set for Sept. 27, from 7 p.m. to 11 p.m., at the Marriott Beachside off North Roosevelt Boulevard.

Tickets are $125 per person; if you’re interested, contact Sergeant Areaka Jewell at 305-809-1091.

Contributions to Biskup are still welcomed and encouraged. Jewell is also the contact for that or click the link on the Cancer Benefit for Sgt. Eric Biskup Facebook page.

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