Bethel Park police officers recognized
It was a proud night for the Bethel Park Police Department Feb. 8 as the municipality handed out awards, commendations and promotions to several of its officers.
Three patrolmen were promoted to sergeant. Three others received merit awards and three more received recognition for an act of kindness that went viral on social media. The police department also recognized a longtime crossing guard for his years of service.
The three new sergeants are Ed Kach, Michael Dunn and David Arnold. The promotions are the result of a department-wide restructuring, which was needed due to the retirements of several longtime officers.
“This promotion is an important step in the career of any police officer. I remember when I was promoted by (former Pittsburgh) Mayor Sophie Masloff,” said police Chief Timothy O’Connor, who came to Bethel Park last year after serving 35 years with the Pittsburgh Police.
Every February, the Bethel Police Award Foundation honors three officers and names one Officer of the Year. This year, Lt. Tim Kirsch received the accolade and Officers Colby Grubich and Sean Gorman were runners up.
Fellow officers vote on who should receive the award.
Mayor Jack Allen later recognized Gorman along with fellow officers Mike Mincin and Justin Beer for helping a man who suffered a heart attack while shoveling snow from his driveway last month.
The officers performed CPR on the man until paramedics arrived and after he was placed in an ambulance and taken to the hospital, the officers decided to grab a few shovels and finish clearing the driveway. A neighbor snapped a photo and shared it on social media.
“With all the negative things we hear today about police, it is great to see something so positive about our police department,” Allen said.
O’Connor also recognized Russ Posch for his 25 years as a school crossing guard.
The crossing guards “are out there rain or shine protecting the municipality’s most precious asset, our children,” O’Connor said.
In another matter, council approved a Briwood LLC’s site plan for a new neighborhood of about 25 single family homes off Willow Terrace and Holly Hill drives. Neighbors voiced concerns about stormwater runoff, traffic and safety at council’s committee meeting last month. Council Member Mark O’Brien said many of those concerns were addressed in the developers agreement.
“I think this will be a great addition to Bethel Park,” O’Brien said.
Construction should begin in the spring and construction could last up to 18 months.