FARRELL, PA. Officers honored for fire rescue

FARRELL, Pa. -- The Southwest Mercer County Regional Police Commission gave commendations to two officers who helped pull a couple from their burning West Middlesex home.
Patrolman Christopher Widmyer and Sgt. William Hite were among the first emergency personnel to reach the scene of the early morning blaze at the home of John and Shirley Pollock at 10 Old Bedford Road.
The commission recognized Widmyer and Hite's heroics during its meeting Tuesday.
The two officers were credited with helping to pull the Pollocks from their home around 1:40 a.m. Oct. 3.
John Pollock, 74, remained in serious condition in the burn unit of Akron Children's Hospital Tuesday while his wife, Shirley, 74, remained in critical condition in the burn unit of Mercy Hospital, Pittsburgh.
Their son, Mark, 46, who lived with them, died of smoke inhalation.
A state police fire marshal said a discarded cigarette in a chair in a basement room caused the blaze. Southwest provides police services for West Middlesex, Wheatland and Farrell.
In other business, the commission voted to buy a new police cruiser from General Motors after police test-drove the vehicle for two weeks. The 2003 fully equipped Chevy Impala was lent to the city for the test period.
Police Chief Riley Smoot told the commission the vehicle is needed to replace a cruiser extensively damaged in an accident earlier this month.
The asking price was $19,455.55 but GM still considers it to be a new car and gave the commission a $4,000 "new car rebate," lowering the price to $15,455.55.