A retired California officer seriously injured in a shootout in 1985 died Dec. 7 of complications.
Signal Hill Police Officer Anthony “Tony” Giniewicz, 58, died surrounded by his family, the department stated in a release.
Giniewicz was critically injured and paralyzed after being shot while responding to a robbery at a restaurant in Long Beach in February of 1985.
“Officer Giniewicz had bravely lived with those injuries and complications from those injuries since that time,”according to the released.
“Although Tony was off-duty when he was injured in 1985, he quickly responded to the situation and engaged the robbery suspects before being shot,” Signal Hill Police Chief Michael Langston said. “We will always be grateful to Tony for his selfless actions serving the community. Tony is just the second Signal Hill police officer to die in the line of duty, and the department is mourning his loss.”
Langston also said that Giniewicz will be recognized by local, state and federal peace officer memorial organizations.
