Upper Gwyendd authorities sergeant Harry Colcher, left, and Officer Montana Lighthart posture with a dog they rescued from being stuck in a pipeline in 2022. (Photo thanks to Upper Gwynedd Police)
UPPER GWYNEDD — Several more of Upper Gwynedd’s finest have actually been acknowledged for their remarkable efforts to help locals in requirement in current months.
Police continued officer acknowledgments, consisting of 2 officers acknowledged two times for their current efforts.
“Our mission is to perform police services in a highly professional and ethical manner, in partnership with the community we serve, and to whom we are accountable,” said authorities Chief David Duffy.
“We’re here to celebrate our mission being carried out, above and beyond the call of duty, with some commendations,” he said.
Officer Montana Lighthart was honored for his actions around 3:40 p.m. on Nov. 10, 2022, when he was on patrol and discovered a vehicle stopped on the 700 block of Sumneytown Pike, Duffy informed the board and a room filled with fellow officers on Tuesday night.
“He observed the driver, a 41-year-old female township resident, slumped to the right side, with some blood coming out of her mouth. She was not responsive to Officer Lighthart,” Duffy said.
Lighthart broke the driver’s side window, discovered that the lady did not have a pulse, and fellow Officer Fred Lynch showed up on scene and helped in pulling the lady out of the vehicle. Lighthart carried out CPR and Lynch used a defibrillator to the lady, up until a Volunteer Medical Service Corps ambulance showed up.
“The woman did regain a pulse. However, she lived for several days and eventually passed away. While very sad and unfortunate, this time allowed her to be with her family, and have them cope with her death, as well as arrange for her organs to be donated. That would not have been possible without the extraordinary efforts of Officers Lighthart and Lynch,” Duffy said, checking out a commendation acknowledging the 2 for their “quick thinking, teamwork and lifesaving efforts.”
The chief likewise acknowledged authorities sergeant Bob Pro, an investigator at the time, and fellow investigator Jon Gill for their efforts last April 16, when authorities got a report of a shooting on the 600 block of Sumneytown.
“It was learned that a male victim was shot while driving his vehicle. The suspect was also driving when he fired the handgun, resulting in serious head injuries to the victim,” Duffy said.
The suspect likewise shot a female victim in the leg “soon thereafter,” and the 2 investigators had the ability to call that victim, who offered the suspect’s identity. After “a substantial amount of evidence retrieval and processing” consisting of interviews and security video, the 2 investigators dealt with the federal U.S. Marshals to apprehend a suspect in Philadelphia, who admitted after being nabbed.
“Therefore, Detectives Robert Pro and Jonathan Gill are recognized for their actions and professionalism in handling this complex investigation and arrest, as well as treating the victims with care and compassion, which improved the reputation of our department and our relationship with the community that we serve,” he said.
After a round of applause and handshakes for those officers, Lighthart and Sergeant Harry Colcher were acknowledged for an occasion the chief called “not something that we train for in the police academy” — a dog stuck in a PVC pipeline.
“We respond to calls that some other police departments may not, and this was one where they really could’ve just told the county this was not a police matter, and not gone at all,” Duffy said.
On May 26, 2022, around 4:30 p.m. Colcher and Lighthart reacted to a homeowner on the 400 block of Swedesford Road who reported their dog had actually gotten stuck in an underground PVC pipeline.
“Instead of telling the owner this was not a police matter, and suggesting a private company could handle it, or referring the matter to another emergency service agency, Officers Colcher and Lighthart took it upon themselves to handle the rescue. It took an hour, and required a lot of digging and cutting of the pipe itself,” Duffy said.
“Eventually, the dog, Una, was freed, much to the relief of its owners,” he said, providing the 2 with a commendation to another round of applause.
And Deputy Chief Ted Caiola liquidated the conference with a 2nd honor for Pro, acknowledging him for 15 years of service with the department, consisting of as the traffic safety officer who field grievances about speeding and stop indication offenses, in addition to his work as an investigator prior to his current promo to sergeant, and as a field training officer monitoring the department’s latest hires.
“We’ll see where his future goes, if he comes back into detectives or not. He’s got some pretty good skills there,” Caiola said.
Lighthart was likewise just recently acknowledged by Lansdale’s VFW Post 32 as their officer of the year, the chief included, and was singled out by commissioners President Denise Hull, who asked the officer to lead the promise of loyalty prior to the event, then thanked all of the acknowledged officers on behalf of the board.
“You all do so much, and go above and beyond, doing so many things that we’re not even aware of. It’s really wonderful when we as a community can celebrate you, because we don’t do it enough,” Hull said.
