SHPD announces passing of retired officer Anthony ‘Tony’ Giniewicz

The Signal Hill Police Department (SHPD) announced Thursday that retired Signal Hill Police Officer Anthony “Tony” Giniewicz peacefully passed away on Wednesday, Dec. 7 at 4:30pm, with his family by his side. Officer 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 a press release issued by SHPD.
“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.
Giniewicz was living in the Paso Robles area near family at the time of his passing. He was 58 years old. The Giniewicz Family will have a memorial service and celebration of his life in the Paso Robles area sometime after the holidays. Thereafter, his ashes will be taken back home to New England, where most of his immediate family still resides.