PHOENIXVILLE — The death of a Phoenixville police officer over the weekend has left the community reeling as residents and colleagues rally to support the family left behind.
Arthur E. Scena IV, of Warminster, was killed in a vehicle crash on Sunday evening in Warminster Township, Bucks County. He was 39.
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The Phoenixville Police Department took to social media to address the tragedy and inform area residents of the incident as a Warminster Township resident organized an online fundraising campaign that has raised more than $60,000 in the last 24 hours.
“It is with deep sorrow and heavy hearts that the Phoenixville Police Department must announce that we lost one of our own last night,” the Oct. 28 Facebook post stated.
Scena was one of 32 officers on the Phoenixville police force, according to Police Chief Brian Marshall. He’d been with the department for more than five years.
“The entire department, law enforcement family, is devastated,” Marshall said Tuesday afternoon in an interview with MediaNews Group, adding that “Art was a great guy, heart as big as ever, and he was always willing to help another person in need.”
The accident took place around 7:30 a.m. on Oct. 27 and is under active investigation by law enforcement in Bucks County. Marshall said he learned of Scena’s death just 12 hours later. He and two lieutenants traveled to Scena’s Warminster home to visit his wife, Amanda, as well as daughters Riley, 14, and Reese, 5.
“The family’s devastated,” Marshall said, hoping to offer his “support and condolences” to the family during this trying time.
“We’re a tight-knit community. We’re very close. A great community so they’re rallying around Amanda and giving financial support as well on the GoFundMe page,” Marshall said.
The GoFundMe launched Monday afternoon netted nearly $62,310 from 526 contributors as of Tuesday afternoon. Organized by Warminster Township resident Michael Gray, the description stated that “all funds raised will go directly to Amanda to help her and the girls navigate through this challenging period.”
Those interested in donating can visit the “Aid for Amanda, Riley, and Reese in Memory of Art” GoFundMe page or the Phoenixville Police Department’s website at phoenixville.org/204/Police. Those interested can also mail donations to the following address: Officer Arthur “Art” Scena Memorial Fund, c/o Phoenixville Federal Bank and Trust, P.O. Box 1046, Kimberton, PA 19442.
While he lived in Bucks and worked in Chester County, Scena had ties to Montgomery County as well as he was a native of Abington. He was raised in Elkins Park and graduated from Cheltenham High School. Scena attended Montgomery County Community College and the county’s police academy in 2010, according to the Phoenixville Police Department’s Facebook post.
Scena went on to work at the Montgomery County Correctional Facility, Philadelphia Housing Authority and Chester City Police Department before moving to the Phoenixville Police Department in 2019. When off duty, Scena belonged to the Bullet’s Law Enforcement Motorcycle Club where he helped coordinate rides honoring law enforcement officers who’ve lost their lives.
“Art was a member of a law enforcement motorcycle community, and they would ride and during this incident earlier that day, they actually rode to support a Philadelphia police officer who died of cancer. So they went to the funeral as well,” Marshall said.
A majority of Phoenixville’s police force, Mayor Peter Urscheler, Phoenixville Borough Council members, family, and friends gathered Monday evening. Honoring Scena’s memory, the group shared stories and toasted him.
“It was a good time [and] it helped with the healing process,” Marshall said.
As the Phoenixville Police Department continues to come to terms with losing one of their own, Marshall spoke fondly of Scena, describing him as a “great guy.”
“[He] had a good sense of humor, thick skin, but when it came down to his job, he took it seriously, and he loved his family,” Marshall said. “Often talked about his family with his coworkers. He’ll be missed greatly.”
