OC Business Journal

COMMUNITY: ‘Heroes’ of Allied Universal put lives on the line, Steve Jones says

—Peter J. Brennan

Aaron Salter Jr., who worked for the Buffalo Police Department for 30 years before retiring, four years ago took a job with Allied Universal at a supermarket in that city. In May, Salter confronted a gunman inside the store. “He pulled his weapons and fired two shots” at the gunman, Allied Chief Executive Steve Jones said.

Unfortunately, the gunman was wearing an armored vest and returned fire, killing Salter as well as nine others in the supermarket.

Allied Universal provided emotional and financial support to Salter’s family to assist with funeral and other expenses. It also expedited the worker’s compensation process, so his family had support as soon as possible. Local Allied leadership also attended the funeral service to pay respect.

Additionally, it promoted the family’s GoFundMe page to about 200,000 employees, many of whom contributed, as well. A GoFundMe page helped the victim’s wife raise $64,000 and a rapper named Metro Boomin paid off the Salter family’s mortgage.

The Buffalo police provided full police honors at Salter’s funeral, saying he saved the lives of others. Canisius College of Buffalo, where he was three credits short of graduation, awarded him a posthumous degree.

“What the community has done for Salter and his family has been amazing,” Jones said. “He’s a hero.”

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