Officers honored for brave behavior

They were confronted when they tried to remove children from their parents.
By VIRGINIA ROSS
VINDICATOR CORRESPONDENT
NEW CASTLE, Pa. -- Three area police officers said they worked together to save one another's lives this past summer.
They were honored for their heroic behavior Thursday at a ceremony at the Pennsylvania State Police barracks in Neshannock Township.
In July, State Police Trooper Gary Johns, along with state police Cpl. David Kelly Jr., responded to a call at a home in Little Beaver Township, where police said they had been asked to help Lawrence County Children and Youth Agency remove two children from their parents' custody.
Township Police Chief Robert Kuhn also was on the scene to assist.
Confrontation
Police said a confrontation ensued with the children's father.
State Police said the children's father, during the confrontation, was able to retrieve a 9 mm handgun from his vehicle and proceeded to behave in a hostile manner toward them.
An altercation developed when Kuhn was near the man and his gun. State Police said the man attempted to fire the weapon, but it malfunctioned.
Johns realized the gun was malfunctioning and signaled Kuhn, allowing Kuhn to break free from the man. The man dropped his weapon but, with help from his wife, tried to obtain Kuhn's gun.
Kelly used his pepper spray to stabilize the situation and take the couple into custody.
"It's a matter of working together," Kuhn said. "The state police have always been there for me. I try to be there for them."
Each officer received a letter of commendation from Maj. Terry L. Seilhamer, state police Area IV commander. In the correspondence, Seilhamer wrote that the officers "brought honor and credit" to themselves and the state police with their "quick, decisive actions and excellent judgment."
State Police Sgt. Gary Schuler, who presented the letters to the officers, said a letter of commendation is a high honor for a police officer.
"Typically, we recognize officers in a situation like this when it is life-threatening for them or someone else and where the officer shows exceptional honor and bravery," he said. "All of these officers performed honorably and risked their own health and well-being for the others. I truly believe they saved one another's lives."