Tuesday, May 15, 2001
Interim Police Chief Ronald Heineking presented these commendations for outstanding police work for 2000 at the Liberty Township trustee meeting:
Sgt. Tobias Meloro for forcing open a door and rescuing a man overcome with smoke inhalation from a burning house June 12. Meloro re-entered the smoke-filled house to search room by room for children the victim said might be there. He later determined the house was unoccupied. He was treated for smoke inhalation.
Officer Thomas Couche and Sgt. Robert Greaf for a timely homicide investigation. On Feb. 23, Couche stopped a suspicious vehicle he saw leaving a wooded area and arrested the suspect, Philip J. Mike, 36, of Liberty, with blood stains on his hands, a firearm and a sword. The officer and sergeant searched the area and found the body of victim, Joe Furda, 40, of Youngstown.
Officer Stephen Remner as officer of the year for outstanding performance on patrol and as the department's senior firearms instructor.
Officer Alexandra Anastis for excellence in public relations and humanitarian assistance to the public while serving as a community-oriented police officer.
Officer Michael J. Janovick for making 99 arrests for felonies and misdemeanors and issuing 477 traffic citations -- the most of any patrol officer.
Officer Peter J. DeAngelo for making 96 criminal arrests, including the highest volume of felony apprehensions. He also was honored for making numerous drug arrests and bringing about numerous asset forfeitures by criminals.