‘They are still a part of the family’

Jackson Bell

For the Huntington Beach Police Department, Officer Scott McKean is

considered to be more than just a colleague. He’s like family.

So when McKean’s eldest daughter, Cheyenne, 5, died earlier this

month, Huntington Beach’s finest showed their support for the former

Glendale residents by setting up a foundation in her name.

Police officers have also collectively donated their days off so

that McKean could have more time to deal with his family’s tragedy.

Family friends estimate about 2 1/2 years’ worth of time off has

been given to him.

“All that we are doing is stuff that you would do for your

family,” Huntington Beach Lt. Tom Donnelly said. “This is more like a

family than a work place.” McKean has been with the force seven

years.

Cheyenne died in a traffic crash July 8 in Laguna Beach at El Toro

Road and the San Joaquin Hills Toll Road. Her mother, Tanya McKean,

and younger sisters, Sierra, 3, and Savannah, 1, were also injured,

family friend Rick Dinger said.

The girl died after a collision involving a Ford Explorer, driven

by her mother, and a Honda Civic. The Honda was northbound off the

toll road off-ramp when it crashed into the Ford, which was westbound

on El Toro Road, police said.

Police declined to provide more information, and family members

were unavailable for comment Monday.

Tanya McKean -- whose maternal name is Novikoff -- was a longtime

Glendale resident who moved her family to Aliso Viejo about two years

ago, said Dinger, who has been friends with her for the past 27

years. Her father, Bill Novikoff, was a longtime football coach at

Verdugo Hills High School and Glendale Community College.

Cheyenne died during surgery at Children’s Hospital of Orange

County, Dinger said, adding that Sierra is still in a coma but is

showing signs of recovery. Tanya suffered broken ribs, and Savannah

is recovering from a minor bump on the head.

Dinger said about 100 Glendale-area friends attended Cheyenne’s

funeral July 17, and many of them have showed their support by

bringing the McKeans food to the hospital and donating money to the

foundation.

“Everyone [in Glendale] was pretty much shocked and really

heartbroken when they learned that she was no longer alive,” he said.

“[The McKeans] moved away, but they are still a part of the family.”