BIO GIVES $25,000 DONATION TO FAMILY OF OFFICER KILLED BY DRUNK DRIVER

San Diego (June 26, 2001) —Today, acknowledging that police officers willingly put themselves in harm’‘s way to protect the safety of others, Ray Briscuso, executive director of the Biotechnology Industry Organization (BIO) presented a $25,000 check to Police Chief David Bejarano for the family of Officer Donna Mauzy, who was killed by a drunk driver on Saturday, June 23rd. The check will go to the Mauzy Family Trust Fund. The presentation took place in the City Council Chambers in the presence of Mayor Dick Murphy and the entire City Council.

According to Briscuso, the check represents the respect and the appreciation that BIO has for the San Diego Police Department for the outstanding job that they have done in conjunction with the BIO 2001 Convention and Exhibition. He said,  Police officers are often unsung in the work that they do facing the risks that are inherent in their jobs. We wanted an appropriate way to say thank you for their efforts. We appreciate their professionalism, fairness and effectiveness. BIO’‘s conference is a tremendous success. We extend our gratitude to the City and to the entire San Diego Police Department. On behalf of all of us at BIO, we extend our condolences to the family of Officer Mauzy. 

BIO 2001, being held June 24 through June 27, is the world’‘s largest biotechnology conference, attracting approximately 15,000 scientists, executives and researchers involved in the field. This year’‘s theme is  Partnering for Life. 

BIO represents more than 950 biotechnology companies, academic institutions, state biotechnology centers and related organizations in all 50 U.S. states and 33 other nations. BIO members are involved in research and development of health care, agricultural, industrial and environmental biotechnology products.