POLICE AWARDS Ceremony honors officers

The lifesaving awards were for 'heroism or exemplary initiative.'
By PATRICIA MEADE
VINDICATOR CRIME REPORTER
YOUNGSTOWN -- In 2003, police officers saved lives, caught the bad guys, and one discovered a huge indoor pot factory downtown.
On Friday, Police Chief Robert E. Bush Jr. recognized them all at an awards ceremony at Our Lady of Mount Carmel hall on Via Mount Carmel.
"What you do makes Youngstown a better place," the chief told roughly 80 police officers and 911 center workers, some of whom were accompanied by family members. Not all award recipients were able to attend.
Bush characterized his department as one of the best in the nation. "I want to give you my personal thanks," he said.
Capt. Kenneth Centorame, who gave the opening remarks, expressed thanks to the police clerks and garage crew who, he said, do so much without recognition. He said the officers receiving awards were taught right from wrong by their parents.
Pot farm
Bush said Detective Sgt. Kevin Mercer was instrumental in uncovering the indoor marijuana farm inside a Marshall Street warehouse because he noticed the odor. The warehouse yielded nearly 4,000 plants and $50,000 in stolen merchandize, the chief said.
The find also resulted in the arrest of six defendants, all of whom pleaded guilty and will be sentenced next month in federal court.
Patrolman Brian Voitus and his canine partner, Buck, each received an award for tracking an armed robbery suspect to a wooded area and making the arrest. Buck did not attend Friday's ceremony.
The 911 crew working when an F-1 tornado touched down on Poland Avenue were recognized for being "calm and patient" when all emergency lines rang at once and continuously through the storm.
Patrolman Jerry Fulmer showed professionalism and bravery when he confronted a man holding a machete to his neck and talked the man out of harming himself, Bush said.
The chief recited a synopsis for each award presented.
He said two awards not on the list -- for Patrolmen Chad Zubal and Michael T. Hartzell -- will be presented next week for their efforts in apprehending robbery suspects. Hartzell's award is being presented posthumously.
For saving lives
Lifesaving awards were given to Patrolmen Rick Baldwin, John Ragan and Robert Eshenbaugh. Such awards are for "any single act of heroism or exemplary initiative which results in saving a life.
Baldwin and Ragan were sent to a call that involved a woman attempting suicide and when they arrived, found her standing on the roof of a two-story house. She had a chain wrapped tightly around her neck as she walked along the edge of the roof, threatening to kill herself.
The officers persuaded the woman to back away from the edge and helped her to safety.
Eshenbaugh responded to a call on Hillman Street and was approached by a mother who said her newborn baby wasn't breathing and hadn't been for about three minutes. She handed the baby to Eshenbaugh, who first checked the baby's airway for blockage.
The officer then turned the baby on its chest and used firm pats on the baby's back. After several attempts, the baby burped up air and milk and began to breathe again.
meade@vindy.com