Police and Kitsios Help Jensen Brothers

The collision happened in a matter of seconds, if that, with Manhattan Beach Sergeant Steve Kitsios applying chest compressions to a female victim when he arrived.

That woman, 52-year-old Redondo Beach resident Jennifer Lynn Jensen, died from the head trauma she sustained when her motorcycle collided with a car making a U-turn on Sepulveda Boulevard at 8th Street last Friday afternoon, two days before Christmas, in Manhattan Beach.

The four young men in the car did not sustain injuries requiring transport from the accident scene to a hospital but Jensen wasn't as fortunate. Her injuries proved fatal. She died in the emergency room at Providence Little Company of Mary Hospital in Torrance. She had been wearing a helmet at the time of the accident that ejected her from her bike onto the roadway a distance away.

Kitsios says that it will take months for the collision investigation to conclude.

In the meantime, he's gone above and beyond the call of duty as a police officer to support the two sons Jensen left behind, two boys who relied on her for their financial well-being.

The Daily Breeze has reported that Kitsios, upon learning that 25-year-old Alex Jensen is disabled and 23-year-old Shaun in college full time, riding a bus to Santa Monica City College, has spearheaded an effort to help the boys, whose mother supported them on her disability check and was riding the motorcycle because she couldn't afford to repair her vehicle and pay the insurance.

"After learning of their hardship, we knew we had to step in and help them with anything we could," Kitsios said. "We knew Shaun would need help with his brother Alex so we reached out to the community."

The community responded, as did the Manhattan Beach Police Officers Association and the MBPD's Victim Assistance Team, donating $500 by Saturday morning, with officers in MBPOA gathering items to help the boys get through the holiday weekend and VAT taking Shaun out to purchase groceries for Christmas dinner.

According to a Daily Breeze article, Shaun and Kitsios "have bonded since Friday and spent much of Tuesday running errands together." Kitsios has helped Shaun open a checking account and took him to get his driver's license renewed at the Department of Motor Vehicles.

In response to the support he's received from the MB Police Department, Shaun told the Daily Breeze, "It's been overwhelming," adding, "If I need somewhere to go, (Kitsios) has helped me with that. He's given me a lot of moral support."

Why is he helping Shaun? Said Kitsios, "I am a father, and if anything like this happened to me, I would hope someone would step in. Seeing relief in Shaun’s eyes when I tell him what people are doing and donating is what motivates me. He and Alex have not had time to grieve so the more we all do for them, the more time they can concentrate on themselves."

Added Kitsios, "I want to thank all the people who have donated and supported this cause."

People can contribute to the Jensen boys by making checks payable to: Manhattan Beach Police Officers Association, P.O. BOX 3542, Manhattan Beach, CA 90266. Do make a note on the check that the contribution is for the Jensen family.